Author: Johannes "Jergen[K]" Cruz			Viewing: Chapter 26

“New York, Las Angeles, San Francisco, New Orleans and Dallas no longer exist Mr. President,” the North American Security advisor said in a strained voice. The President exhaled, lowering his face into his hands. “I thought we had contained them.” “I don’t think that exists as a possibility sir.” The NAS advisor sat down in front of the President’s desk. “There are reports all over the world now, mostly in Europe and Asia, but it will spread Sir.” The President let out a nearly hysterical laugh as he said: “Well, we could just vaporize everything and hope someone makes it.” “Actually Sir,” the NAS man said, “That has been taken under advisement, and the personnel that have been chosen to survive have already been relocated to Gateway station.” The President was stunned into silence. For a long time he simply stared at the man before him. “How many?” “We have selected five thousand of the Earth’s best,” he placed a list on the President’s desk. “The rest,” the man’s voice died away as he shook his head. *** Johannes shot through the dark water, using the momentum from the fall to take him to the bottom of the chamber. Water pressure crushed painfully at his skull as his hands swept through murky darkness for the fallen sniper rifle. Not more than ten seconds later he heard another splash echo through the pool as something landed from above. Even though he couldn’t see it, Jergen was certain what had followed him from the supports above. For a moment he thought of flight, but the pain in his leg was too intense for that, he could barely paddle as it was, and that thing would be on him faster than he could even begin to slip away. Giving up on finding the rifle, Johannes pulled his fighting knife and rolled over onto his back. Trying hard to see in the near-darkness of the water and wished he had something with a little more punch. *** Ban’s shock lasted longer than he would have liked. Blood and loose tissue slid down his face in warm lines as he watched the body of Arthur Prove slump over in his seat, the better part of his face blown outward from Mekhazzio’s attack. Mekhazzio watched with grim satisfaction as the man slid onto his side, his right hand letting go of the large weapon he had trained on the Doctor’s head. The large pistol thudded into the bottom of the metal boat, resting against Ban’s boot. A look of smug recognition passed over Mekh as he looked at Ban and nodded. “Not helpless women,” he said, sounding almost in a daze himself. “You just can’t do something like that, not even in this world.” Doctor Stewart started to scream, but couldn’t manage enough volume for it to be more than a hoarse squeak. Her eyes were huge, looking everywhere at once, but there was no clarity to them. Then, as if some switch had been thrown in her internal chemistry, she passed out, landing on top of the cooling body of Arthur Prove. Ban moved to her, inspecting the wound, then doing his best to bandage it with his wet undershirt. The round had gone through her and into the bottom of the boat, missing any major bones, it hadn’t done more than punch a hole through her. The boat, however, was suffering from a 12mm hole that was letting in plenty of water, and would soon begin to go down. “We have to get to the center,” Ban said. Ban slowly took the gangster’s weapon, looking it over for a moment before speaking, "We have to get off of this station.” For a moment his eyes scanned the dimly lit chamber, looking for any sign of Johannes. “I can get us back to the ship,” Mekhazzio said. “What about the cargo?” Ban asked. “I thought you and your buddy got to that,” Mekhazzio said, shrugging. Ban shook his head. “No, after it left the ship it must have disappeared.” A look of dread crossed the man’s features, making Mekhazzio visibly uneasy. “So?” Mekhazzio said, starting to row to the nearby platform they had been moving towards before Ban’s arrival. “It’s a particularly dangerous cargo,” Ban said solemnly. “What exactly does particularly dangerous mean to a Colonial Marine?” Mekh said, looking at the man with a troubled expression. “This station is more than likely already doomed.” “I see what you mean by particularly dangerous, but there are quite a few mercenary companies onboard Solstice, I can imagine them as being pretty capable of self-defense.” Mekhazzio visibly puffed himself up, trying very hard to reassure himself. Ban just shook his head, “Not this time.” Mekhazzio remained silent, pulling at the oars a little harder, wishing every moment to be as far away from this place as he could manage. *** Johannes forced himself to the surface as quickly as he could. He had managed to remain at the bottom of the pool for as long as possible, but he was rapidly beginning to suffer from lack of oxygen. Pulling hard at the dark water, he exploded from underneath, sucking in great volumes of air as soon as his head cleared the surface. Wildly, he looked around for the creature, but saw no sign of it. He could feel his groin tightening with fear as he imagined talons reaching up at him from beneath the dark surface. No longer able to see the small craft from across the water, he made for the far shore of the chamber, hoping he could regain at least some of his lost gear. Then, just as he made to turn, he saw something. A slight ripple at first, he watched in horror as it picked up speed, heading away from him, towards the center of the pool. He instantly knew where that thing was headed, and he also knew it would be able to devastate the passengers of the small craft when it got there. With renewed purpose, Johannes set off after the Xenomorph, praying he was fast enough to make a difference. *** “Report Mr. Jones?” The stale-sounding voice said over the network communications interface. Each member of the Network had been “enhanced” illegally by the companies that employed them. Be they cybernetic strength, vision modules, or communications and storage medium placed in various cavities, these enhancements ensured not only the loyalty of each member of the Network, but also advanced their chances for success in any given task. The penalties for enhancing the body in this manner were steep, usually death, and it was well known that traitorous members would be hunted down by authorities on assignment from the corporations themselves. Thus, Network agents tended to be fiercely loyal to their respective employers. “The subjects are near center-station, the organism is in close pursuit.” “Understood,” Smith began in his customary monotone. “Your assessment of their chances, given the modified nature of the creature and the known abilities of the subjects in question?” “Organism version Bravo neutralized target Raven, subject is being routed back to hive-structure at this time. I have confidence in the current design,” Jones reported. “Very well,” Smith said, turning towards a monitor showing the entire station. “Specimen Raven will be the first grown in the wild, elements will be standing by to perform genetic analysis when the organism is born.” “Orders?” Smith said, watching as Johannes struggled to catch the creature as it sped through the water towards the small craft. It was obvious the Marine had been wounded, but he moved surprisingly well considering the shot he had taken in the leg. Most men would have become unconscious by now, but Johannes seemed oblivious to his injury. If he survived, Mr. Jones intended to capture this Jergen alive. Something was afoot, and the Network was not kind to secrets. Especially not secrets on company owned space stations. “Observe, but do not try to contain, we need a solid analysis of how the creature hunts it’s prey in any given situation. We need to see it learn.” “Understood, Jones out.” With this Jones terminated the link with Mr. Smith. Drawing his sidearm, he moved out of the tunnel he was using for cover and proceeded to collect Johannes’ gear from the side of the pool. There couldn’t be any witnesses, nor could there be evidence as to what had gone on here.