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The sound of a rifle shot reverberated down the corridor. Vlasa quickened his pace down the central stairwell and ran into the cargo bay. Before him, a chaotic scene played out. The echoes of the rifle shot faded to be replaced by incomprehensible shouting.
Noah knelt in one of the teleporter chamber with his rifle aimed at an unknown Rokma who stood in the other. The Rokma held a pistol, which he pointed back at Noah. Javi stood between the two, one eyestalk and one arm upraised toward each. Olivia cowered next to some storage tanks. All of them were shouting at each other.
Adjusting his vocal implant, Vlasa managed to speak over the others, “What is going on here?”
The moment of silence ended when everyone again started shouting at once. Impatiently, Vlasa whistled at a high pitch until they stopped. Cringing, the two humans covered their ears while Javi’s gelatinous skin visibly vibrated. The sound appeared to have no adverse effect on the Rokma.
“Now, Olivia, what is going on?” Vlasa asked again, once it was silent.
“This granite...” Noah started, but Vlasa cut him off with another whistle.
“I asked Olivia.”
Darting her gaze between Vlasa, Noah and the Rokma, Olivia tentatively said, “We were down on the planet when this Rokma appeared and charged us. Javi sensed that there was something else coming, so the captain sent us back to the ship. We got the tanks back and then Noah and the Rokma ported up next. I don’t know what happened to the captain.”
“Noah, what happened to the captain?”
“Giant. Fucking. Spiders.” Noah growled.
“She is dead?” Vlasa felt a cold sense of dread fill him.
Noah blinked, “No, she was fine when I left. But they were getting pretty close.”
“So why are you standing in the teleporter chamber preventing her from returning?” Vlasa using his implants to keep his voice level.
“Shit,” Noah lept out into the cargo bay.
Seconds after he cleared the chamber a flash of light signaled the teleporter activating. Ariana stood in the chamber, soaking wet with water dripping off her. She coughed several times and immediately started shivering. Vlasa turned toward the emergency kit on the wall and removed a blanket, handing it to her as she stepped out of the chamber.
“It’s good those things can’t swim.” Ariana said as she wrapped the blanket around herself, “What took the porter so long to recycle?”
Vlasa hung his head in relief. For a moment he thought that Ariana might not return. He had no idea what he would do if that happened.
Everyone else stood staring at her blankly. Neither Noah nor the Rokma had lowered their guns even though their gazes had shifted. After using the blanket to dry her face, Ariana looked up and became aware she had become the center of attention.
“What? Do I have something in my hair?” She asked pulling at it, “Why are you two still pointing guns at each other?”
“He led those spiders toward us,” Noah said.
The Rokma’s deep, slow voice cut off Ariana’s reply, “It was pure happenstance that I came upon you as I fled those creatures. If I had known you were there, I never would have come that way so as not to endanger you.”
“Everyone put your guns down,” Ariana said, her voice growing stern.
“Him first,” Noah said.
“Of course. I wish no one here harm.” The Rokma said.
Once the Rokma’s pistol was on the deck, Noah too lowered his rifle, but he kept it at the ready. Some of the tension eased from the room. Javi backed up, so he no longer stood between the two.
“My name is Squee. My ship...crashed...on this planet some time ago. I came across the spider’s lair and was fleeing toward the water when I came upon you. Thank you for rescuing me.”
“Heh, your name’s Squee.” Noah chuckled, and Vlasa reflexively cast a sour look at the man.
“It is,” Squee said without inflection. He then turned to Ariana, “I pledge myself to your service until my debt to you is repaid.”
“Debt?” Ariana asked.
“Yes, for saving my life and freeing me from that infernal planet. The moss I was forced to eat to survive tasted like death.”
“Well...umm... you’re welcome. We could always use a few more hands. What do you do?”
“I was a shield technician on my last vessel and I have many basic engineering skills. Also, I can lift things much heavier than humans can.” Squee said, his voice proud.
Vlasa gave the Rokma an appraising glance. It had been a long time since he had worked with anyone who understood more than the basics of how things worked on a starship. If his boast proved correct, it would be a nice change of pace.
“Good, good,” Ariana said. “Well, welcome aboard. Noah, bring the equipment back up. I had to pull the recall from the pump, but the electrolyzer should still be good.”
“Yeah, yeah,” Noah grumbled. He moved to the teleported controls and triggered the recall command. Another flash and then a piece of metal appeared in the teleporter chamber.
“Goddamn spiders. They smashed my electrolyzer.” Ariana groaned.
“It appears you did manage to secure the fuel though.” Vlasa said gesturing, “So it was not a total loss.”
“Yeah. Let’s get that into the reactor tanks and get away from this terrible planet.”
Squee reached down and lifted the heavy tanks with no apparent effort. He looked to Vlasa who gestured toward the exit. The pair trudged away, Vlasa’s metal leg clinking and Squee causing a noticeable thud with every step.
Behind them, they heard Noah call out, “Hey, wait a minute. Where’s my pistol?”
“Umm...” Ariana started, “The river? Probably.”
“I liked that gun.”
“Would you like to go back and get it?
“Can we nuke the area first?”
Ariana tilted her head, “I don’t know. You’re the one with an arsenal in your room. Can we nuke the area?”
Noah let out a heavy sigh, “No.”