Dead Space:Stranded

7 Days Later

Kyle Aaron watched the names of his former squad mates pass by his computer screen. The funeral for them had been short and bittersweet. A celebration of their lives and the mourning of losing them.

Prescott, Melvin, Reynolds, Daniels, Owens, Travers and Jackson. They were Aaron's friends. Even the Rookie turned out alright. If not for Jackson, none of them would've made it home.

Still, things weren't the same. Anytime Aaron closed his eyes he saw those fucking things coming for him. He was too scared to sleep and too scared to try to sleep with the lights off. He almost stabbed a fellow Marine for walking up behind him.

Gardner hadn't come out of her for more than five minutes at a time. At the funeral she wouldn't stop sobbing on Prescott's empty casket. It took Wells a solid hour before he managed to get her to leave.

Morse spent most of the week recovering in the infirmary. He was even quieter now. He had lost his only real friend when Daniels died.

Mitchell turned back to religion to help him. Aaron found it hard to pray after all that had happened, but he knew it helped Mitchell get over it.

There was a knock at the door that jolted Aaron from his thoughts. The door opened and Morse stepped in.

"Morse," Aaron nodded towards him.

"Nice place," Said Morse.

Aaron looked around, his room was a mess.

"Sure."

"I had Banning do some digging for me and we found something," Morse leaned in closer and began to whisper.

"Well what is it?"

"Jackson never destroyed the Marker. He took it off station and delivered it to the USM Lockhaven."

"Are you fucking kidding me?!" Aaron stood from his desk.

"Quiet down and let me finish. Briggs set us up for the op. He let Jackson into the squad to pose as a Private and do his mission. From what we could tell, the Marker is interesting some private military corporations who want to try to weaponize it."

"Our guys died for nothing out there un-fucking-believable."

"We're heading for Charlotte Station to catch some R&R for four days. When we get there we might have a window of opportunity to go destr-"

"Whoa whoa whoa. I'm not going back up against those things. You're out of your mind Morse."

"Mitchell's already in on the plan, and I know Gardner will be onboard too. Wells might take a little more convincing but we could pull it off."

"Morse I've never heard you run your mouth before but I wish you'd go back to being silent. You're out of your minds. We're talking about going against a military warship with all kinds of guys with far better gear than us. Not to mention the fucking Necromorphs if that shit happens again. You can count me out."

"You're a fucking prick Aaron," Mitchell spoke from the doorway.

Aaron jumped and nearly reached for a weapon but calmed himself.

"Sorry for the scare but you're a prick. That Marker killed a lot of people, including our own. If that gets weaponized and goes out of control everyone in the universe could be screwed. This is our chance to make a difference Aaron, we could save lives," Said Mitchell.

"I'd have to agree with Mitchell here," Said Morse.

"Fine. You know what? I couldn't think of a better way to get myself killed if I tried. I'll do it."

Aaron regretted those words as soon as he said them but part of him knew that Mitchell was right. Lives were in danger. If that Marker wasn't destroyed, a hell of a lot more people would die.

They had to stop it.