left and right and in front of me, there was about ten feet of open space. If the Uduss rushed across it, there was enough time to kill it with the flamethrower before it reached me.
My eyes began drooping because I was tired. Somewhere close by, an air valve began hissing. I opened my eyes, surprised by the sound as my aching neck muscles tightened even more.
Outside Exp One, someone fired a machine gun for several seconds!
I blinked, trying to stay awake.
Close to the ceiling, a humanoid silhouette, a dark shape with wings glided toward me and came to rest on the floor.
I squeezed the trigger—a flame shot out.
The beast dodged. The flame missed it. The creature started walking, coming toward me.
I aimed the barrel to the left—flames hit the Uduss.
The beast’s huge jaws opened—it screeched, “Eeeee.” It dodged to my right.
I aimed, fired.
The beast jumped out of the flame, still walking toward me.
I moved the barrel from left to right.
The Uduss crouched—flames went over its head.
I drew a circle in the air with the barrel.
The creature leaped out of the blazing orange circle.
I began shooting in random bursts and hit its leg.
It screamed, “Ieeee,” and dodged to the left. After raising both claws, it raced toward me.
In an attempt to distract it, I removed another pen from my pocket and threw it at the creature’s legs.
The Uduss glanced down, surprised by the object.
I fired and hit its leg again.
“Eeee!”
Suddenly, a ball—a projectile shot by someone else—flew into its mouth. Its mouth snapped shut.
I raised the barrel—flames went up its slimy gray chest. The creature backed away. At the same time, a section of its upper jaw blew off and the beast fell!
I lowered the barrel.
Flames engulfed the Uduss and its body burned to a crisp.
I let go of the trigger, took a deep breath, relieved and looked to the right. Whoever shot the ball was gone.
Behind a cabinet, UE stood and walked toward the beast.
I rose to my feet. “Let’s put its corpse in a body bag. Then I’ll open the hatch door and throw the bag out. According to my scanner, the creature’s blood is full of E Coli viruses. We have to get rid of the corpse or the disease could spread throughout the ship.”
UE nodded. “After we do that, I’ll help Jen.”
“Good.”The hatch to the exit chamber hissed open.
We stuffed the dead creature into a bag and pushed it inside the chamber. Once the bag was inside, I would stuff the creature’s burnt claws and any other body parts that had fallen off into another bag, then place it inside the chamber.
Feeling curious, I looked out the chamber window on the opposite wall. The tube was gone. I left the chamber, then walked behind a telescope housing.
Not far away, Jen was face up on the floor, unconscious or dead. UE stooped over her.
“Is she alive?”
“The Uduss took a big chunk out of her leg.” UE touched her wrist. “Her pulse is weak. I’ll take her to Joel. Jen needs medical attention.”
“After I dump the rest of the creature’s body parts, I’ll help you.”
“Understood.” An automated cart rolled into the room. Both of us placed her body on it. The cart left, UE following it.
Chapter Five
I grabbed both claws, placed them in the bag, picked it up, stepped inside the chamber and threw the bag on the floor. The chamber depressurized—Exp One jerked. Much to my surprise, the outside hatch opened. I looked outside. Another tube had just attached itself to Exp One! Farther down the five-foot diameter structure, inside it, there was only darkness. Something growled. At the same time, chills ran up my spine.
Ten feet down the tube, a dimly lit humanoid, a barely noticeable silhouette, scampered toward me. Above the humanoid, on the ceiling, a creature stuck out its claw, trying to slash my face mask.
I raised my flamethrower and squeezed the trigger. A flame shot out—the beast retreated.
The other Uduss grabbed at my leg.
I
My eyes began drooping because I was tired. Somewhere close by, an air valve began hissing. I opened my eyes, surprised by the sound as my aching neck muscles tightened even more.
Outside Exp One, someone fired a machine gun for several seconds!
I blinked, trying to stay awake.
Close to the ceiling, a humanoid silhouette, a dark shape with wings glided toward me and came to rest on the floor.
I squeezed the trigger—a flame shot out.
The beast dodged. The flame missed it. The creature started walking, coming toward me.
I aimed the barrel to the left—flames hit the Uduss.
The beast’s huge jaws opened—it screeched, “Eeeee.” It dodged to my right.
I aimed, fired.
The beast jumped out of the flame, still walking toward me.
I moved the barrel from left to right.
The Uduss crouched—flames went over its head.
I drew a circle in the air with the barrel.
The creature leaped out of the blazing orange circle.
I began shooting in random bursts and hit its leg.
It screamed, “Ieeee,” and dodged to the left. After raising both claws, it raced toward me.
In an attempt to distract it, I removed another pen from my pocket and threw it at the creature’s legs.
The Uduss glanced down, surprised by the object.
I fired and hit its leg again.
“Eeee!”
Suddenly, a ball—a projectile shot by someone else—flew into its mouth. Its mouth snapped shut.
I raised the barrel—flames went up its slimy gray chest. The creature backed away. At the same time, a section of its upper jaw blew off and the beast fell!
I lowered the barrel.
Flames engulfed the Uduss and its body burned to a crisp.
I let go of the trigger, took a deep breath, relieved and looked to the right. Whoever shot the ball was gone.
Behind a cabinet, UE stood and walked toward the beast.
I rose to my feet. “Let’s put its corpse in a body bag. Then I’ll open the hatch door and throw the bag out. According to my scanner, the creature’s blood is full of E Coli viruses. We have to get rid of the corpse or the disease could spread throughout the ship.”
UE nodded. “After we do that, I’ll help Jen.”
“Good.”The hatch to the exit chamber hissed open.
We stuffed the dead creature into a bag and pushed it inside the chamber. Once the bag was inside, I would stuff the creature’s burnt claws and any other body parts that had fallen off into another bag, then place it inside the chamber.
Feeling curious, I looked out the chamber window on the opposite wall. The tube was gone. I left the chamber, then walked behind a telescope housing.
Not far away, Jen was face up on the floor, unconscious or dead. UE stooped over her.
“Is she alive?”
“The Uduss took a big chunk out of her leg.” UE touched her wrist. “Her pulse is weak. I’ll take her to Joel. Jen needs medical attention.”
“After I dump the rest of the creature’s body parts, I’ll help you.”
“Understood.” An automated cart rolled into the room. Both of us placed her body on it. The cart left, UE following it.
Chapter Five
I grabbed both claws, placed them in the bag, picked it up, stepped inside the chamber and threw the bag on the floor. The chamber depressurized—Exp One jerked. Much to my surprise, the outside hatch opened. I looked outside. Another tube had just attached itself to Exp One! Farther down the five-foot diameter structure, inside it, there was only darkness. Something growled. At the same time, chills ran up my spine.
Ten feet down the tube, a dimly lit humanoid, a barely noticeable silhouette, scampered toward me. Above the humanoid, on the ceiling, a creature stuck out its claw, trying to slash my face mask.
I raised my flamethrower and squeezed the trigger. A flame shot out—the beast retreated.
The other Uduss grabbed at my leg.
I
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