After The End

A.I.

As we head down the hall we see what looks like green slime on the floor and wall. I look over Dariela and Jamie's shoulders, "What the hell?"

"Let's keep moving." Jamie looks to the two of us before we continue down the hall then down to the basement, "Access to the main battery unit's down here." Jamie walks over to a panel that is out of the wall and looks inside. Jumping back and reclosing the panel after a moment. "We have a problem." Once she closes the panel there is a loud thumping on the panel. The three of us waste no time getting everyone together, so we can make sure we are safe and find a way to get rid of the hybrid. Jamie calls to everyone over the P.A. "Everyone regroup in the galley. We have a hybrid on the plane."

Once we get to the galley I find one of the blueprints for the plane and I sighs, "Well, we found what's causing the power drain."

Jamie nods and walks over beside me as I lay out the blueprints, "a new hybrid wrapped around the main battery unit."

"It secretes some sort of fluid from its tentacles." Dariela looks over a sample of the green slim we found.

Abe takes the sample, "Some sea creatures have been known to generate a weak electrical field through the mucous membranes. Must be creating interference with the battery."

"What about power to Clem's tank?" Mitch askes.

"We should be good for now. Jamie and I diverted power from another battery."

Jamie nods, "If there are no more major malfunctions And that's a big if We'll have power for another two hours. Max, you're gonna have to wait a little longer to get home to Helsinki. In order to regain control of the plane, I need to reboot the entire system, and I can't do that with this creature wrapped around the battery."

Abe nods, "There may be another option. We create a weak beacon signal, pinpoint the creature and draw it out into the open."

Dariela shakes her head, "It's too dangerous. We can't risk it being loose on the plane."

I look over to Abe, "Dariela and I can access the service duct in the vehicle bay and come at it from the rear."

Dariela nods, "We'll kill the hybrid. You guys reboot the plane."

Abe looks over to me, "A spinal fluid draw from a live subject would be the best option."

"Abe."

"Look, I know this is dangerous, but we only have two hybrids left."

I sigh and nod, "And since the two previous samples came from deceased hybrids, the serum may not be efficient. Solving sterility may depend on getting the spinal fluid while it's still alive."

Mitch nods, "She's right."

"But none of that will matter if we can't keep this plane in the air. So, we'll clear the hybrid using nonlethal means if possible. Someone's gonna need to stay here and prep the system for reboot."

Mitch raises his head, "Uh, Max and I will do that."

Jamie looks over to them, "Great. Abe, final step. You need to throw the master switch. It's in the bar, behind the control panel."

Abe nods, "Okay."

"And the comms are down, so everyone needs an earpiece."

Once we have our earpieces Dariela and I get ready to head to the vehicle bay. Loading a few guns when Abe comes in, "Are you sure you want to be using live ammunition?"

"Don't worry." Dariela looks up to Abe momentarily, "I had the fuselage reinforced."

As we continue getting ready the plane rumbles and one of the tablet's starts beeping, "Okay, let's move."