A Call From Across The Universe (ONC Entry)

Chapter 07

I awoke with a jolt, grabbed my gun and pointed it... at nothing. After what happened earlier, I sealed the door, made sure to put my suit on high-alert, if anything moved, I'd be woken up. I just wanted to rest a little, then get as far from here as possible. Ah, need more adrenals, feeling the last batch wear off. This was probably really bad for me in the long term. But, I didn't need to worry about the long term effects if I was dead. I wouldn't be able to care at that point anyways.

Alright, HUD engaged. Marker still there. Had to just head in that direction and go. Whatever was out there was probably gone anyways.

....Nope. The second I opened the door I was faced with some kinda weird fleshy looking thing that almost looked like a cocoon with legs. To call it "gross" would be an understatement. Should I.... approach it?

"Last words of every horror protagonist."

Yeah, no, I think it would be best if I just avoided this death flag like it was-

Wait, what's a death flag? How do I know that word? Whatever. I just walked right past the thing, not turning my back on it, and hoping that it couldn't see me. Was this an alien? Stupid question. Of course it was. Probably just some local lifeform, nothing intelligent-

It shuffled in my direction, very slowly following my trail. I pulled out my gun, yet it didn't stop moving, I wasn't sure if it could even see me. I could shoot it.

"Seems a bit cruel though."

Yeah, it did seem cruel. It doesn't seem hostile, and even if it was, I don't think it can penetrate my exosuit, and with that speed, I don't think it can even catch up to me. So... just keep moving, and ignore it.

I stopped briefly and turned around to look at the creature again, and lady luck had smiled on me once more.

A shot whizzed past my helmet, had I not stopped, it would've penetrated through my helmet and splattered my brain matter onto the crisp, white snow.

My instincts took over, engaged the jump-jets and dove to cover, behind one of the wrecked vehicles. Engage life-scans. There's only two. Most likely pirates. One of them has a rifle.

"Escape?"

Not likely, they'll probably shoot me in the back as I try to flee, then again I might do the same if our positions were reversed.

"Pirates kill. They hurt people. They take away everything."

They do. I hate them.

So I just need to get in close. I poke my head out just a bit to get a better look at them. They're obscured by the blizzard but... they're not going towards me? I thought I'd need to engage countermeasures to the life-sensors, but it seems like they either don't have them or they're broken. That makes this easier to execute.

Ah wait... the power cell in my suit, it was already low. If I do this, it might deplete the power entirely. What do I do then? Use minimal power to get through this, or use it to end this battle quickly.

"None of it will matter if you're dead anyways."

That's true. If I get shot because of conservation of power, then none of it will matter anyways. So, let's set the suit on overdrive. It'll drain the power cell much quicker, but it'll end this immediately, I'll use the blizzard as cover.

I see them facing each other, one of them points in one direction.

Wait for it.

They split up.

Not yet. Begin the overdrive process.

They're facing away from where I am.

Pick a target. The guy with the rifle is the most dangerous threat, I don't know what kind of weapons the other guy has. My HUD can't recognize the suits or weapons. That's probably bad.

Don't think about it right now. Focus on the moment right here, and what you have to do. Don't think. Just act...

Now! I boost out of cover, right over the wreck like a rising eagle, ready to strike at its prey. Did I always think like this? They must've noticed the sound and movement, too late to back out now.

With a heavy thud, I land directly onto the furthest assailant. I can feel their skeleton crack beneath the weight of 300 pounds of expensive hardware designed solely to survive hostile environments and fight jackasses just like this.

A memory flashes. Of fire, and men in metal suits and rags. Of screams in the night. Of gunfire and explosions around me, the ringing. The incessant ringing was the worst part. Fear. Hate.

"Don't fall to the darkness, don't get lost in the memories. Adrenals, calm. Not over yet."

Another injection of adrenals to suppress the memories, suppress the feelings welling up inside me. Need to finish this first, deal with the rest later.

With the sidearm maglocked to my hand, I quickly place the barrel against what I believe is their faceplate, and pull the trigger.

Bang!

Bang!

Double-tap. No chances for retaliation. No life signs in the target