Last Light in the Dark

Marcus half-carried, half-dragged Lucas down the hallway deeper into the power station, desperately searching for any sign of an exit. The sizzling, bubbling mass of ooze continued its relentless pursuit, gaining ground with each passing second.

"What about the fist?" "The what?" Marcus asked.

The team burst through the tunnel entrance, slamming the heavy door shut behind them. They leaned against it, gasping for breath as the screeches and flapping of the winged creatures faded into the distance.

Marcus Reeves, age 29, grew up on a struggling agricultural colony on the outer rim of human-controlled space. The harsh environment and constant threat of crop failure taught him resilience and resourcefulness from a young age.

Lucas Reeves, age 32, grew up on a struggling agricultural colony on the outer rim. The youngest of three children, he was always fascinated by technology and dreamed of escaping the harsh life of a farmer.

The team headed out from the hangar, navigating the dimly lit corridors towards the glass tunnel that connected the outpost to the main city. The silence was eerie, with no signs of life or activity anywhere.

Everything happened quickly after that. When the team reached the armory, they were surrounded by quartermasters who fitted them out with all the tactical equipment they would ever need to wage a small war. Rifles, sidearms, specialty weapons and explosives.

The door slid open, and several officers sauntered into the mess hall. They all walked with an air of overzealous importance as they joined the rest of the enlisted soldiers. It was something Marcus was used to, and he barely noticed.

By the time Marcus made it back onto the Endeavor, everything was in full and frantic motion. Soldiers, mechanics, and officers ran up and down the halls, and there was a life and energy in the air he had never experienced.