Scrappers Part III

Visitor

"That ain't no Harvester," Ruggy said, lifting his rifle.

"That thing, from the crash site," I said.

Scratching and pounding picked up. The tearing of metal reverbed throughout the cruiser. The beast was attempting to break in. We were sitting ducks.

"We can sneak out the side," Ruggy said, leaving the hangar bay.

I followed him, holding my rifle tightly. The tearing of metal amplified as a loud clang erupted. A howling roar echoed in the hangar bay. The beast was inside. Ruggy and I picked up our pace, closing the midway hall door in the process. We made it to the side exit beside the cockpit. Ruggy began to punch the emergency pin to open the door. With the cruiser completely off, we had no way of communicating with it from our goggle interfaces. Everything was manual.

Thumping erupted from the hall, it was closing in. I looked back. There, behind the small circular window of the hall door, the muscular beast from the crash sight stood on its hind legs, looking almost human. The spikes on its back erected upward as the drooling mouth opened, exposing the sharp teeth. It let out a roar, slamming its clawed hand into the glass. It shattered, pushing the door forward with it.

"Ruggy!" I shouted.

Ruggy finished punching the pin into the door's lock, and it lifted upward. We rushed out of the cruiser as Ruggy turned around, punching the button the lock the door. It swung back down as stomping came from the hall. The beast rushed towards. The door locked shut as it slammed into the side of the cruiser, roaring. The whole vehicle wobbled.

"Damn manual override," Ruggy said. He glanced around while placing his goggles over his head. I did the same, letting the night vision come to life. We could now see the lights off in the distance. The Harvesters were on their way.