Salvage Station 23

Chapter 1, Part 8

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The eerie music continued to drift through the night air as the residents of Salvage Station 23 gathered at the gate, weapons at the ready. The laughter had died down, replaced by an unsettling quiet.

"Well," Max whispered, breaking the tense silence, "I guess the Jacks decided karaoke night was too mainstream. They've moved on to a full orchestra."

Eli snorted, then quickly covered his mouth. Olivia shot them both a look that was half amusement, half exasperation.

Suddenly, a chorus of voices erupted from the darkness, a cacophony of familiar phrases:

"Aiden, did you hear that?"
"Hey"
"I guess the Jacks decided karaoke night was too mainstream. They've moved on to a full orchestra."

The words were theirs, echoed back in grotesque imitation. The Jacks, it seemed, had learned a new trick.

"Well, that's not creepy at all," Max muttered, his usual humor strained.

"I thought they couldn't speak."
Zoe said in a low voice.

"Alright, folks," Olivia said in a low voice. "We know they can mimic words now. Stay sharp, and don't believe anything you hear."

As if on cue, a voice called out from the darkness. "Help... please... help..." It was disjointed, like a broken record, and carried the unmistakable undertone of a Jack's screech.

"Oh great," Zoe muttered. "They've learned to ask for help. What's next, filing tax returns?"

Despite the tension, a few stifled laughs rippled through the group.

David stepped forward, his experience evident in his calm demeanor. "They're trying to draw us out. We should-"

He was cut off by a new sound - a perfect imitation of Olivia's voice, coming from just beyond the gate. "Alright, folks. Stay sharp."

The real Olivia's eyes widened. "Okay, that's unsettling."

"Hello? Is anyone there?" This time it was Aiden's voice, but Aiden himself was standing right next to them, looking deeply disturbed.

"Well," Mia said dryly, "I guess we know where all those missing karaoke machines ended up. The Jacks have quite the repertoire."

The situation was tense, but the group's gallows humor was keeping panic at bay. They stood firm, watching the darkness beyond their walls, as the Jacks continued their unsettling concert of mimicry.

Liam, who had been quiet until now, suddenly perked up. "Wait a second. Guys, I have an idea."

All eyes turned to him as he explained his plan. Soon, grins were spreading across faces as they prepared to turn the tables on their nocturnal tormentors.

Minutes later, the air was filled with a cacophony of sounds. Eli had rigged up speakers to play a mix of their voices, random words, and the most annoying pop songs he could find on an old MP3 player.

"Take that, you smiling creeps!" Max shouted into the night. "How do you like a taste of your own medicine?"

The mimicry from beyond the walls faltered, replaced by confused screeches. It seemed the information overload was throwing the Jacks off their game.

"Ha!" Zoe laughed. "Guess they can dish it out but can't take it. Serves them right for interrupting my beauty sleep."

As the night wore on, the group took turns manning their noisy defense system. The Jacks' attempts at mimicry became more disjointed and less frequent, until finally, as the sky began to lighten with the first hints of dawn, silence fell.

Olivia let out a breath she didn't realize she'd been holding. "Good work, everyone. Especially you, Liam. Quick thinking."

Liam beamed at the praise, while Aiden clapped him on the back, pride evident in his eyes.

The sun rose on Salvage Station 23, bringing with it not just a new day, but the possibility of a whole new world of challenges and opportunities. Whatever came next, they would face it together - with determination, ingenuity, and maybe a few terrible jokes along the way.

~~~