ANDROMEDA: Journey of a Cursed Man

CHAPTER 6: ...RIGHTEOUS SIDE OF HELL

<< HOW LONG UNTIL THIS SYSTEM REBOOTS GOD DAMMIT ?>> Jarvis shouted at Elsa when he stopped shooting at the door. << As far as speed is concerned, this "state-of-the-art" technology is not doing any high tech shit right now >> Marvin said obviously intending to be ironic. << When this is all done, Alcatraz is going to by us a round! >> Maxwell said and closed one of the doors for the fifth time. << If we get out of this alive, I will buy the whole damn bar >> Alcatraz said. That little joke helped keeping the spirits up.

<< I swear if I see one more of these slimy little bastards I am going to officially freak out >> Jarvis said. << I thought you had already freaked out old man>> Elsa said teasing him. He was really old, but no one complained, due to him being very agile with a gun on his rusty hand. << And to answer you question, I need ten minutes and..... ten seconds >> she said. << That means that we have to hold out for another ten minutes, great >> Maxwell said. << You can look on the bright side! >> Alcatraz said.

<< And what might that be? >> he asked ironically.

<< We have nine, not ten minutes left >> Alcatraz answered.

<< And I am a unicorn, it doesn't make a difference >>

<< You are wrong, a unicorn is beautiful, you are ugly >> Marvin said making everyone laugh.

The room shacked and the glasses started to break. The door lock system was thankfully online, but the main power was gone. << Any idea of what just happened? >> Alcatraz asked. << The only thing I know is that the reboot stopped at mine and a half minutes >> Marvin said.

Elsa in her turn went to the panel and started working on something. << What are you doing there? >> Alcatraz asked. << I am going to scan the station and the area around it >> she said without taking her look from the board. << Do as fast, as you can. We cant stall them for much longer >> he said and turned to the other three men.

<< Jarvis, take Maxwell and search for anything useful inside the room. If you have to get outside then don't go too far >> Alcatraz ordered the two men who left immediately. << Marvin, go and treat some of the injured please, I cant stand listening to them screaming so much >> he said and the veteran nodded. Everyone understood his position and thankfully no one disobeyed him that far. When the others left he went to help Elsa restart the process and finish the reboot.

<< Anything new? >> he asked hoping for a positive answer. << Not on the system, but I have something from the outside >> she said accruing Alcatraz's interest. << What did you find? >> he asked. Elsa looked at him, << It's not what, it is who I found. Take a look >> she said stepping aside. Alcatraz came a little closer and zoomed in the map. He saw the station, and around him the asteroid field he had passed through on his way there. He didn't find anything close to their side, but when he searched north from the station, he saw the Corinthian fleet engaging the Stygians. It seemed like they had caused that explosion; there were large circles cleared from asteroids. They had blown up the field in order to slow down the Stygian fleet. << Smart move Agelaos >> Alcatraz said and move away from the board. << These are good news, turn on the station internal communications and tell everyone about it. This is very good >> he said.

<< Alcatraz wait! >> Elsa said and turned around, she was sweating too much. There was something bad going on, but what could it be in such a small amount of time? << What happened? >> he asked. She didn't move, her look remained pinned on the board. Alcatraz couldn't help but look too, and he didn't like what he saw; inside the station, the only thing that should be transmitting a life source signal was coming from their position. But instead of that, there was a second, larger signal coming from the heart of the station.