The Seductress of Andromeda

by Callista Hawkes

  “Now what?” You ask Eris. She pulls a small remote interface unit from her pocket, tossing it to Drazix.

  “Show him.” She smiles. He nods and approaches an outlet for the ventilation system for the server. You watch in amazement as his body narrows and elongates and he slithers inside the impossibly narrow ducting.

  “My God!” You murmur.

  “Drazix will make his way inside the core and plant the interface directly into the mainframe.” Vaxia tells you. “Aki and Mariko will then be able to remotely hack the electronic locks on the safe and all that wonderful dylatinum will be ours.”

  “Apart from the small matter of all those trained guards between us and the vault.” Aki reminds her sourly. Vaxia shrugs. Your gaze traces the sound of the Aquilan scrambling through the narrow vents, up the wall to the ceiling, across over the server core and down into the centre of it. It makes you feel claustrophobic just thinking about it. You glance towards the open door. Eris and Mariko have their blasters aimed back down the corridor. You feel tense, knowing that there will be a security force sweeping the vessel and it is only a matter of time until they reach the server room.

  “Come on!” Vaxia mutters, her arms folded across her chest. She shifts nervously from foot to foot.

  “We’re in!” Aki tells you, studying her wrist mounted computer. At that moment, the doors at the far end of the corridor slide open and several security guards, clad in black body armour burst out, guns blazing. Plasma bolts smash into the walls around you while Eris and Mariko return fire, using the frame of the door as cover. They are both exceptional shots and you are relieved that you weren’t stupid enough to doubt Mariko’s skill back on their moon in the Proxima system. You move into cover yourself, taking a few pot shots at the advancing security force. You hear a cry of agony behind you swiftly followed by a scream of anguish. You glance over your shoulder to find Drazix slipping out of the ventilation duct, Vaxia dashing to his side. A stray shot must have hit the ducting while he was crawling back through. As she cradles him in her arms, another shot fizzes through the air and strikes her in the side. She crumples next to him, clutching at the wound, her face contorted in pain.

  Go to help them

  You can’t do anything for them now

  You break cover, firing wildly down the corridor and keeping low as you dash to their side. You grasp Vaxia and begin to drag her across the gantry towards cover. Drazix has fallen silent and his body appears to be melting as his gelatinous form begins to break down. Plasma bolts streak past you as you near cover before one finds its mark. You cry out in agony at the searing pain in your side, the smell of burning flesh filling your nostrils. You drop to your knees, the now unconscious Vaxia next to you.

  “Trent!” You hear Eris call out, looking at you helplessly from just a few paces away. You smile grimly back at her, wishing you had shown her restraint rather than getting yourself shot. You crumple backwards, gazing up at the high ceiling of the server room as your vision begins to darken. As you slip away, you wonder if the others will make it out of the server room alive.

  THE END

  Go back a few moments and rethink your actions

  You gaze helplessly across at the wounded Aquilans, desperately wanting to assist them, but knowing if you break cover, you’ll be gunned down the same as them. You fire blindly from cover as plasma bolts continue to streak through the open door. Vaxia shrieks again as another hits her. Drazix has fallen silent and you fear it is already too late for him. Eris and Mariko continue to return fire, but you are hopelessly outnumbered. You glance at Aki who is busily working on her computer.

  “You’ve got a blaster. Use it!” You snarl at her. She gives you a withering glance before ignoring you, her fingers playing over the computer screen. You shake your head and fire off another couple of shots before a klaxon sounds and a heavy blast door descends in the middle of the corridor, cutting the security force off from you. You breathe a sigh of relief and give Aki a reluctant nod of appreciation. You move across to Vaxia and Drazix, or what remains of Drazix. His body now resembles a shapeless, gelatinous mass and is beginning to drip through the gantry grating. Vaxia clings to life, but you can tell it is too late for her.

  “Make sure you get all that dylatinum.” She coughs, a clear viscous fluid dribbling from her lips that you presume is her blood. “Don’t let our deaths be in vain.” She smiles grimly up at you. “I guess you’ll each have a bigger share at least...” She grimaces, her body going limp and you feel a pang of regret as you watch the light dim in her violet eyes.

  “You heard her, let’s finish this.” Eris tells you, pragmatic to the last. She checks the map on her wrist mounted computer. “There’s a service shaft for the computer cabling from the server room. We can climb up two decks to the vault level. Aki should be able to open the vault doors now.” Aki nods and you follow Eris to an access panel in the wall of the server room. She pulls the panel open and you follow her into the narrow crawlway. You reach the service shaft, a long ladder stretching up several decks. Grasping the rungs, you begin to climb, hoping the security force haven’t anticipated you using the service shaft. If they have, you’ll be shot like fish in a barrel.

  You reach the top of the ladder and carefully open the access panel before peeking into the corridor beyond. Red lights strobe and you can hear distant klaxons sounding. At the far end of the wide corridor, you can see two sentries standing either side of a thick blast door. They appear alert, their rifles at the ready.

  “The vault!” You whisper to Eris. She nods and smiles. “We might just do this!”

  Use the element of surprise and shoot the guards

  Have Aki open the vault doors to distract them

  “Open the vault doors.” You whisper to Aki. She nods and taps at her wrist mounted computer. She stares intently at her screen, fingertips playing nimbly over it before with a final tap, she looks up and nods. You peer around the corner. You can hear a hiss and watch as the guards, perhaps a little jumpy from being on high alert, start and spin around. A deep rumble echoes up the corridor as the thick vault door slides slowly upwards. As they both peer into the vault, you all clamber out of the service shaft and open fire. Plasma bolts streak down the corridor, finding their targets, the guards slumping to the deck next to the open vault door. With the last obstacle removed and the vault door yawning open, you hurry towards it, the others behind you. As you step inside, your excitement is immediately punctured.

  “Where’s the fucking dylatinum?” You snap at Eris, the large chamber conspicuously empty. “There’s nothing in here but fresh air!”

  “Have you ever actually seen dylatinum?” Eris replies coolly. She stoops to pick up a small silver case from the back of the vault. She passes it to you and you lift the lid. The case is filled with ten gleaming red crystals, neatly arranged in two rows. “Those crystals are worth two million credits each.” She grins. “Each crystal is capable of powering a small city for a year.” You feel your face burn with embarrassment. You had always thought dylatinum was some sort of precious metal, like gold or silver. You had expected a vault full of several tonnes of heavy bars.

  “Well, I’m glad we’ve got that straightened out.” You reply, snapping the case shut and flashing Eris an apologetic grin. You hear a rumbling behind you, the thick vault door beginning to slide down.

  “Shit! Get out!” You yell, clutching the case and throwing yourself at the rapidly closing gap between the deck and the closing door, rolling beneath it just as it closes with a solid thump. You get to your feet, finding yourself alone on your side of the door. There is a small window in the door and you see Eris thump the glass in frustration.

  “Quickly! Get us out!” She yells, though her voice is muffled by the thickness of the vault door. You study the vault controls before glancing at the small case of dylatinum clutched in your hand. Twenty million credits would stretch a hell of a lot further if it was split just two ways… You see Eris studying you through the win
dow, her eyes narrowing as she sees the conflict on your face.

  “Don’t you fucking dare!” She thunders.

  Leave them imprisoned in the vault

  Break them out of the vault

  You spring out of cover with Eris and open fire, plasma bolts streaking down the red lit corridor. The guards simultaneously return fire, their rifles spitting high velocity plasma back at you. The narrow superheated bolts strike you both, Eris sprawling to the deck while you stagger forward, clutching your shoulder, your blaster slipping from your fingers. You glance at the guards, one face down on the deck while the other steadies himself and fires again, the second shot burning through your chest. You fall to the deck, finding yourself gazing into Eris’s cold, dead eyes that seem to stare accusingly at you. You wince as you twist around, seeing the Takagi sisters’ faces gazing fearfully at you from inside the service shaft access door. Mariko is clutching her blaster and seems to be on the brink of stepping out. You shake your head.

  “Save yourselves.” You rasp, tasting blood. Mariko reluctantly nods and they pull the access panel closed as everything fades to black.

  THE END

  Go back a few moments and rethink your actions

  “Okay, let’s take them down.” You tell Eris. She nods and you both spring out of cover together, bringing your blasters to bear and firing in unison. Two green plasma bolts streak down the corridor, striking their targets who crumble to the floor.

  “Easy.” Eris grins. “Stealing the dylatinum is going to be like taking candy from a baby.” You nod, knowing there is a long way to go before you can start bragging just yet. You all step out into the corridor and approach the vault doors.

  “My moment to shine.” Aki murmurs. You all stand nervously while she taps at her wrist mounted computer. You hold your blaster at the ready, all too aware that Aurigan guards could descend upon you at any moment.

  “Come on!” Eris urges her impatiently.

  “She’s working on it.” Mariko snaps back at her. Aki stares intently at her screen, calm and unflustered despite the pressure. With a final tap on the screen, she looks up, smiles and steps back from the vault. There is a hiss of hydraulics and a rumble as the thick door slides slowly upwards. Your heart thumps in your chest, so close now to the prize. As the vault yawns open, you all step in, your excitement immediately punctured.

  “Where’s the fucking dylatinum?” You snap at Eris, the large chamber conspicuously empty. “There’s nothing in here but fresh air!”

  “Have you ever actually seen dylatinum?” Eris replies coolly. She stoops to pick up a small silver case from the back of the vault. She passes it to you and you lift the lid. The case is filled with ten gleaming red crystals, neatly arranged in two rows. “Those crystals are worth two million credits each.” She grins. “Each one is capable of powering a small city for a year.” You feel your face burn with embarrassment. You had always thought dylatinum was some sort of precious metal, like gold or silver. You had expected a vault full of several tonnes of metal bars.

  “Well, I’m glad we’ve got that straightened out.” You reply, snapping the case shut and flashing Eris an apologetic grin. You hear a rumbling behind you, the thick vault door beginning to slide down. Klaxons sound and red lights strobe around you.

  “They’re on to us!” You yell. “Quickly, get out!” The tiny box in hand, you throw yourself at the rapidly closing gap between the floor and the closing door, rolling beneath it just as it closes with a solid thump. You get to your feet, finding yourself alone on your side of the door. There is a small window in the door and you see Eris thump the glass in frustration.

  “Get us out!” She yells, though her voice is muffled by the thickness of the vault door. You study the vault controls before glancing at the small case of dylatinum clutched in your hand. Twenty million credits would stretch a hell of a lot further if it was split just two ways… You see Eris studying you through the window, her eyes narrowing as she sees the conflict on your face.

  “Don’t you fucking dare!” She thunders.

  Leave them imprisoned in the vault

  Break them out of the vault

  “Goddamn it!” You mutter, both at the frustration of having to break them out and at your conscience for insisting you try. “Aki? Anything you can do from in there?” The petite hacker is already busily tapping at her wrist mounted computer.

  “They’ve locked me out!” She shouts through the window slit. “It’s a jamming transmission. Have a look around. There should be a relay nearby. It will be a small dome shaped device either high on the wall or on the ceiling.” You search around the vault door and glance back up the corridor behind you, but can’t see anything that looks like the relay Aki described.

  “I can’t find it!” You shout back.

  “Keep looking!” Eris snaps. “We’re running out of time!” As you frantically search for the relay, you are again tempted to abandon the others to their fate. No point in you joining them through some misplaced loyalty to a crew of criminals you barely know.

  Continue searching for the relay

  Abandon the others and make your escape

  You dash back up the corridor, desperately searching for the relay and knowing with each passing moment the Aurigan security guards will be closing in. You pass a turbolift door halfway along, glancing at a projection above and momentarily thinking you have found it, but it is just a level indicator. You hurry past and as you reach the far end of the corridor, you spot a small, dome shaped protrusion on the ceiling. You grin and raise your blaster just as you hear the doors of the turbolift open behind you. Your blood runs cold and you glance over your shoulder. Four guards have emerged from within and their eyes widen when they spot you. They all raise their rifles.

  “Halt!” One snarls. “Drop your weapon.”

  Shoot the relay

  Shoot the guards

  Surrender

  While it might be a futile effort, you are not giving up without a fight. You spin around and open fire, hitting the first guard in the chest. He falls back with a cry of agony. You clip the next, but the third and fourth guards have opened fire. Plasma bolts streak up the corridor striking you in the leg and chest. You cry out, the blaster slipping from your fingers and clattering away from you. Grimacing, you drop to your knees and clutch your wounds. The two uninjured guards advance cautiously towards you, their rifles trained on you.

  “You got me.” You spit, holding up a bloody hand in surrender.

  “It’s too late for that.” One of the guards snarls, aiming his rifle at your head. Your eyes widen and you open your mouth to object, but the guard doesn’t hesitate, his finger tightening on the trigger and putting you down for good.

  THE END

  Go back a few moments and rethink your actions

  Your finger tightens on the trigger, squeezing off a shot. The relay explodes in a shower of sparks, arcing and fizzing and giving off a strong smell of ozone. You spin and drop to the floor as the guards open fire. Plasma bolts burn the floor around you and you bring your blaster to bear, returning fire. Your hurried shots miss and the guards keep low as they advance slowly towards you. They lay down a suppressing fire to keep you pinned down, the guards well drilled as they confidently close in. You glance all around you, wondering if you could crawl towards one of the other doors and escape, but they are too close now.

  “Shit.” You murmur, wishing you had surrendered when you had the chance. At that moment, more plasma bolts fizz by, high over your head. One of the guards slumps forward, a smoking burn mark between his shoulder blades. The guards panic, glancing behind them as blaster fire fills the corridor. You grin, watching Eris and the others advancing quickly towards them. Another is snatched back, clutching his chest. With the remaining two guards distracted by the attackers, you scramble to your feet and shoot them both.

  “Thanks.” You tell Eris as she sprints towards you.

  “It should be me thanking you.” She grins. “I thought f
or a moment there you were going to leave us locked in the vault.”

  “Never crossed my mind.” You lie with a wry smile.

  “It would have crossed mine.” She chuckles.

  “And mine!” Drazix adds.

  “If you’ve all quite finished?” Mariko snaps. “There’s the small matter of a ship full of well trained and merciless Aurigan guards that will now be alerted to our presence.”

  “Yes, time to leave.” You reply.

  You retrace your steps back towards Eris’s ship. With the vessel now on full alert, there is sporadic resistance, but you manage to either slip past the patrols or shoot your way out. You finally reach the hull breach, Vanessa leaning casually against the wall next to it, the muzzle of her blaster smoking. The bodies of several guards are strewn about her.

  “At last.” She says, glancing up at you. “You know it’s rude to keep a girl waiting.”

  “Well, I’ve got twenty million reasons for you to forgive me.” You grin, tossing her the tiny case.

  “You’ve got the dylatinum!” She smiles.

  “Yeah, yeah, you can suck his dick later.” Eris snaps, leading the way into the hull breach, the others following.

  “I might take you up on that.” You whisper to Vanessa. She giggles and you follow her into the tiny craft, closing the hatch behind you. You move into the cockpit, releasing the docking clamps and drifting away from the massive vault ship, the endless silvery grey underside shifting upwards out of your view to be replaced by the inky black infinity of space. You set hyperspace coordinates for the rendezvous and there is a steady hum as the hyperdrive engines spool up before the stars are replaced by the swirling eddies of the hyperspace conduit. You lean back in your chair, exhaling and glancing at Eris next to you. Her face mirrors your own, her relief and elation palpable.