Chapter Eight: Consequences

  Fragment's voice seems to be whispering to me from far away, but I can’t make it out… the ringing in my ears, her violet eyes, hazey now, glassed over… I reach out with my good arm and close them.

  Fragments voice again, more insistent, still I can’t make out what it is saying, I try to stand, but my feet hurt so badly, and the effort makes me so dizzy I nearly pass out. I sit back down for a moment, trying to catch my breath. “LEOD!” Finally Fragment’s voice breaks through, the piercing screech clears my vision, and I shake my head. “You have to move now. There is no longer enough time to make it to the shuttle bay, but there may still be enough to get you to storage facility 018.”

  I manage to get to my knees, the effort causing every nerve to scream, each movement taking everything I have, I breathe a few times more, I can’t think, but I manage to say, “Which way?”

  Fragment’s voice returns, sounding cheery this time, well, pitched up at least, “Follow the new guideline, we must descend through the opening in the deck behind you.”

  I giggle, and begin crawling towards the hole in the floor.

  I don’t manage to climb down, as much as gracefully fall, each bump and hard landing sending shockwaves of pain through me, making me laugh. I am going to die, the ship is going to crash, and right now I am just grateful to whatever god or chance created us humans with the ability to put off feeling horrific pain or fear while we are still in shock. With a final slump, I make it to the next deck, this one at least is better lit than the last.

  Love this story? Find the genuine version on the author's preferred platform and support their work!

  02:17, Fragment urges me on, “Just down the hall Leod, I spoke with the ship and we agree this is your best bet to survive.”

  “Whatever you say Fragster.” I mumble, as I crawl to the wall, using it to steady myself as I stand. I take another deep breath, really making that my main focus as I try not to let the dizziness and tunnel vision take me back to the ground. “Ooooook, this way.” I stumble forward.

  01:35, I make it to a door which very politely opens for me. I nearly fall once I have to let go of the wall, but with a little swaying, I manage. As I enter I see huge storage tanks of the green slime, each one holding enough to fill a small pool. I giggle, “You gonna use the goo to glue me back together Frag?”

  A very familiar drawer opens out of the wall near the door, another suit, glasses, and a helmet. Fragment’s voice urges me on, “The helmet Leod, then it’s time for a soak.”

  It only takes a moment for the helmet to snap in place, it being designed for the suit, they interlock perfectly, and my AR HUD gets some snazzy new air, water, and pressure readouts.

  00:42, I walk over to the nearest tank and drag myself up a utility ladder on the side. The top hatch opens for me. I look down at the slime, this time though, the idea of being surrounded by it seems like heaven, “Thanks Frag man, see you on the other side.” and I fall into the tank, not moving as I sink down and let it flow around me.”

  The tank reseals itself, 00:07, Fragment whispers, “Good luck Leod.”