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“Oh, sweet Jesus,” Melissa said, shouldering her rifle and taking aim.
The damage was inflicted so swiftly, Jack had no idea he was injured much less bleeding out all over the physical plant’s floor. He simply stood there stunned. He was aware that something happened to him. Something physical. Something bad. He was also aware that it had everything to do with the alien life form. It’s just that he could not feel anything.
“Why’s everyone looking at me so funny?” he asked.
Casey and Melissa fired simultaneously, causing the moth monster to evaporate. Jack dropped to the floor finally and was surrounded by a pool of his own blood. His eyes were already dilated, and his breathing became labored.
“My...apologies, Case,” he said. “My...apologies, Lieutenant. I let you both...down.”
“Nonsense,” Casey said, slowly lowering himself onto one knee.
Melissa also lowered herself onto one knee and took hold of the engineer’s trembling hand. It was then that another radio announcement came from Alex.
“My sensors are picking up at least three more alien beings on both the main deck and inside the cockpit,” he calmly stated. “I assess we are currently suffering from an infestation much like the one that destroyed the crew of The Expendable.”
“Are you sure, Alex?” Casey posed.
“I was engineered to be correct ninety-nine-point-nine percent of the time, Security Officer Casey. It’s also my duty to let you know that you and Lt. Fitch have a five percent chance of surviving the next six hours. That’s the time it will take the acidic blood of the dead aliens to breach the hull and for hyper-depressurization to occur. I hope this helps with your decision-making process going forward.”
“Listen, Case,” Jack said, his words barely audible now that the last of his heartbeats were about to cease. “Here’s what I would do if I were still...alive.” A little blood ran out the corner of his mouth.” I would have Alex...track down...The Expendable. It’s got to be locked in Mars Orbit...and we’re close enough to dock with it.”
Casey glanced at Melissa. Her eyes told him that the dying engineer was onto something important. So important, it meant the difference between living or dying.
“Then what, Jack?” she asked.
Jack inhaled and exhaled.
He said, “You lock up The Explorer...tighter than a drum...and send it on a direct course for the sun. When the ship reaches exterior temperatures of nine hundred degrees centigrade, which it should do in less than thirty minutes...it will set off the nuclear reactor...and...”
He was having trouble finding the breath to finish his sentence.
“And what, Jack?” Casey pushed the dying man.
“The craft...will simply...cease to exist,” Jack said.
“Along with all the alien monsters inside it,” Casey added.
Jack coughed up more blood and squeezed Melissa’s hand.
“But won’t there still be aliens aboard The Expendable?” she asked.
“Negative,” Alex chimed in. “The aliens survive only when there are hosts to connect to. The Expendable is presently entirely operable, but uninhabited. If you can board it and take every precaution to make certain you do not make contact with malicious aliens, you have a one hundred percent chance of survival. Theoretically speaking, of course.”
“Alex,” Casey said, “what are the chances you can program the empty ship so we can dock with it, ASAP?” He said ASAP like it was a word.
“It’s possible I can hack into the onboard AI and cause it to come within docking range over the course of the next hour.”
“How...fucking...possible, Alex?” Melissa begged.
“One hundred percent possible,” Alex said.
“I order you to get on it, Alex,” Fitch said.
“I’ve already begun the contacting process,” the robot said. “Please stand by.”