Cosmic Monsters by Carlo Hart

Author:Carlo Hart [Hart, Carlo]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781956659368
Published: 2023-12-27T00:00:00+00:00

32

STAY CLOSE

Madison and Kavita cautiously boarded the distressed ship, the Wanderer, their senses on high alert. The airlock hissed open, revealing a dimly lit corridor that stretched into the bowels of the ship. The atmosphere was heavy, the air stifling and hot, a stark contrast to the cold vacuum of space they had just left.

They moved through the ship with a purpose. The walls were lined with pipes and cables, some of them hanging loosely, evidence of hasty repairs or long-term neglect.

They were greeted by the crew, a motley group of six individuals who looked as rugged and worn as the ship they inhabited. Their leader, a grizzled man with a cybernetic eye, introduced himself as Captain Renn. The others remained quiet, their eyes darting between Madison, Kavita, and the shadows that seemed to cling to every corner.

"We appreciate the help," Renn said, his voice gruff. "Our engines are dead, and we've been stuck here for days."

Madison nodded, her eyes scanning the crew, trying to gauge their intentions. "We have an AI with us, Stanley. He can assist with the repairs."

She used her psychic senses to probe the edges of the crew's minds, searching for any hint of deceit. The crew's thoughts were a jumble of fear, desperation, and something else she couldn't quite place.

They were led to the engine room, a cramped space filled with the hum of machinery and the smell of burnt electronics. The heat was almost unbearable, sweat beading on their foreheads immediately.

Stanley's voice echoed through their comms, guiding them through the repair process. "The damage is extensive, but I believe we can get the engines operational," he said, his tone analytical.

Hours passed, their efforts met with frustration as one problem led to another. Finally, with a triumphant hiss, the engines sputtered to life, only to fall silent again moments later.

Madison cursed under her breath. "What now?"

"There's something else at play here," Kavita said, her voice low. "The engines should be working."

Madison reached out with her mind, scanning the crew's thoughts for any sign of sabotage or trickery. Their minds were a soup of emotions, but nothing that pointed to malice or deceit.

Renn wiped the sweat from his brow, his expression one of genuine confusion. "I don't understand."

The ship creaked ominously around them, the shadows seeming to grow deeper, more menacing.

Something was wrong, something beyond the failing engines and the desperate crew. The ship itself felt like a trap.

The dim, flickering lights cast long shadows, and the heat was stifling, almost suffocating. Madison and Kavita followed the crew deeper into the bowels of the ship.

The crew seemed just as uneasy. Their eyes darted around nervously.

As they reached the engine room, the crew began to bombard Madison and Kavita with questions. "What kind of armaments does your ship have?" one asked, his voice tinged with a mix of curiosity and suspicion.

"Are you part of any military faction?" another inquired, eyeing them closely.

Madison kept her tone neutral, "We're independent operators. Just passing through." She could feel Kavita's psychic energy humming beside her, a silent signal of her readiness to act if needed.

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