Book Five, Chapter 40: Bigger and Bigger

“We did something similar back in the war,” Michael said as he packed the tissues covered in goop into the air vents. “Of course, we were doing it because of the mustard gas.”

Andrew stood beside him, packing his own vent with tissues and goop.

“I wasn’t aware they used mustard gas in the Martian wars,” Andrew said.

“No,” Michael replied. “But we were damn sure scared they were gonna.”

He and Andrew started to chuckle.

“Attention! Attention! Is someone else alive on this damn spaceship?” Bobby’s voice broke out over the intercom.

Andrew and Michael looked at each other. Even Lila, who had been on the floor half-heartedly packing a vent with tissue, jolted with energy and jumped up. Andrew hit the intercom button first and said, “Hello? Who’s there?”

“This is Science Officer Bobby Gill! Oh my God, I can’t believe there are other survivors! I’ve been looking all over, calling out to the sleeping bays. Where have you been? Never mind that—who are you, and where are you?”

“Doctor Andrew Hughes,” Andrew said. “Right now, we’re in hallway 37-B, trying to trick the system into letting us into the mess hall.”

“Andrew Hughes? From the University of Carousel?” Bobby asked.

“Yes,” Andrew said slowly. “Wait, Bobby? From the class of ‘72? Is it really you?”

“Unfortunately,” Bobby said. “Small world.”

Bobby had brought his Remember Me trope, which allowed him to elevate to the main cast. It worked well.

Now, with all of the surrogates debuffed by the bedbugs and Bobby healthy, he was the highest Plot Armor character and a main character.

He was our star.

“We’ll catch up later. Glad to see a Medical Officer aboard. Got some bad bites. You having any luck with getting up this way?” Bobby asked.

“That remains to be seen,” Andrew said. We have just three survivors, and I am not a medical officer. I’ll look at your bites, though. How many survivors are on your side?”

Bobby was silent for a moment.

“Just me. I’ve been trying to get ahold of my buddy up in the auxiliary sleeping bay, but they’re not answering up there either.”

“I’m sorry to hear that,” Andrew said. “I suppose the bed bugs are thick up there too?”

“Bed bugs?” Bobby asked. “Oh yeah, we got bed bugs. We got all kinds. How are you keeping them at bay?”

“We’re not,” Andrew said. “No matter where we go, they find us in our sleep. It’s maddening.”

“In your sleep?” Bobby asked. “I wasn’t talking about the little bedbugs. Who cares about those damn things? I’m talking about the big ones. The mutants.”

Andrew and Michael looked at each other.

“Mutants?” Andrew asked.

“Never mind. If you haven’t seen them, then count yourself lucky. They seem to be quarantined in my lab so far. Thank God they haven’t gotten out. I was worried they’d crawl through the ventilation system. It’s only a matter of time.”

“We haven’t seen anything but normal bed bugs back here,” Andrew said.

“Normal bed bugs… Who’d have ever thought I’d be relieved to hear that?” Bobby asked.

“I feel you,” Andrew said. “Where are you? Do you have access to the helm? There should be manual overrides if you can get to them.”

“I’m on the other side of the anti-gravity device from where you are. I’m having difficulty moving forward because science officers aren’t very highly ranked, and IBECS is a son of a gun.”

“Do you have food and shelter there?” Andrew asked.

“Some of both,” Bobby said. “But be careful, and if you see a door labeled ‘Protein Lab,’ do not open it.”

“Roger that,” Andrew responded.

With that, they started hurriedly packing the vents, using essentially the same technique they had used in the first run but in a different part of the ship.

This book was originally published on Royal Road. Check it out there for the real experience.

“Alright,” I said, turning to my friends on the helm of the Helio. “It’s time for Phase Two. Ramona and Isaac, you stay here. Cassie, you’re welcome to stay here too. I’ve told you a thousand times—you’ve done more than enough.”

Cassie shook her head. “We need to do this,” she said. “If you need my help, I’m going to be there.”

I nodded. I didn’t need her for anything but some additional scouting, but I was willing to let her tag along as long as things stayed safe.

“You two, keep your eyes on the screen and keep everyone apprised of what’s going on. You are our center of communication, and you’re our eyes in the sky.”

Ramona and Isaac nodded.

IBECS could maintain a party line between all of us, no matter where we went on the ship, so we could all be in communication when we were Off-Screen, but we wouldn’t be able to see each other. That was an essential piece of the puzzle that Ramona and Isaac would cover by staying on the Helio.

“Antoine, Kimberly, Cassie—you’re the backup. Dina and I will forge ahead to try to solve the puzzles and unlock doors.”

“We know what we’re doing here, folks,” Antoine said. “Now, let’s go run this thing.”

“Do we put our hands in the middle and say ‘Go team’?” Isaac asked.

He meant it sarcastically, but we did it anyway.

Back on the IBECS, the most important member of our team was meeting up with the surrogates. They were at the anti-gravity device on either side of the gaping hole.

“What do we do here?” Andrew cried out.