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The Skeld drifted calming throughout space, the hum of its engines providing a steady, Poison was adjusting her tool-belt as she stood in Electrical trying to figure out how to remember the colors and where they go.
"Red wire to yellow... wait that doesn't seem right," she muttered, scratching her head. A shadow appeared at the doorway, making her jump. It was Maroon, her visor reflecting the blinking lights in the room but she soon start to head to the cafeteria.
She made her way into the Cafeteria. Poison, dressed in a sleek black suit, stood leaning against the task board, arms crossed. Her visor reflected the soft glow of the room’s lights, giving her a mysterious air.
Across the room, Croissant adjusted her maroon suit, a mix of excitement and nerves bubbling inside her. It was her first mission on the Skeld, and she wasn’t sure what to make of her new crewmates.
“Hey,” Croissant called, her voice friendly but a little unsure. “You’re Poison, right? I think I saw your name on the roster.”
Poison turned her head, her tone calm but guarded. “That’s me. And you’re Croissant?”
“Yep!” Croissant replied, walking over and offering a gloved hand. “Well nice to meet you. First time on the Skeld?”
Poison hesitated, then shook her hand briefly. “Not exactly. I’ve been on a few missions. You’re new, though. It’s written all over you.”
Croissant laughed nervously. “That obvious, huh? I just hope I don’t mess up and, like, vent the oxygen or something.”
“You’ll be fine,” Poison said, her voice softening slightly. “Stick to your tasks, and don’t trust anyone too quickly.”
Croissant tilted her head. “Anyone? Including you?”
Poison smirked under her visor. “Especially me.”
Before Croissant could respond, the ship’s lights flickered, plunging the Electrical into darkness.
“What the—?” Croissant whispered, her voice tense.
“It’s just a power outage,” Poison said, her tone steady. “Stick close.”
As they made their way back toward Electrical, the ship felt unnervingly quiet. The distant clanking of metal echoed through the hallways, but no other crewmates appeared.
“This place is creepier than I expected,” Croissant muttered, glancing around nervously.
“Yeah, it’s got that charm,” Poison replied dryly. She stopped in front of Electrical, her hand resting on the door. “Let me check it out first.”
Croissant frowned. “What? Why? I can handle myself!”
Poison shook her head. “Rule number one: Electrical is a death trap. If something goes wrong, I’d rather one of us be safe.”
Croissant folded her arms. “I’m not letting you take all the risk. We’ll go together.”
Poison hesitated, then nodded. “Alright, but stay alert.”
Inside, the air felt heavy, as though the room itself held its breath. Poison worked quickly to fix the lights, while Croissant kept watch.
“So,” Croissant said, trying to break the tension, “how’d you get a name like Poison? Sounds pretty... intense.”
“It’s just a nickname,” Poison replied without looking up. “People think I’m dangerous.”
Croissant chuckled nervously. “Are you?”
Before Poison could answer, the lights flickered back on.
Before Poison could answer, the lights flickered back on, revealing the room in its usual stark brightness.
The vent in the corner hissed suddenly, and both women whipped around.
“Did that just—?” Croissant started, her voice trembling.
“Yeah,” Poison said, stepping toward it cautiously. “But no one came out.”
“Maybe someone went in?” Croissant suggested, backing up toward the door.
“Or maybe someone’s watching us,” Poison muttered. She straightened up and turned to Croissant. “We need to leave. Now.”
As they turned toward the hallway, the door to Electrical slammed shut behind them, locking with a loud hiss.
Croissant jumped, her voice rising in panic. “What’s going on? Why did the door close?”
Poison stepped back toward the door, inspecting the panel beside it. “Someone’s messing with the controls. Either from here or remotely.”
Croissant moved to her side, looking over her shoulder. “Can you override it?”
“Maybe. Just keep an eye on the vent,” Poison said, her fingers working quickly on the controls.
Croissant turned toward the center of the room, her heart racing. The vent remained closed, but every creak of the ship sent shivers down her spine.
“Poison, hurry up,” she urged, her voice barely above a whisper.
“I’m trying,” Poison muttered. “It’s a basic lock, but the system’s glitching.”
Suddenly, the vent creaked open slightly, and Croissant gasped.
“Poison!” she yelled, backing up toward her partner.
Poison turned sharply, her body tense. But nothing came out. The vent simply... stayed open, an ominous black hole in the corner of the room.
“Still think we’re being paranoid?” Croissant asked, her voice shaking.
“No,” Poison admitted. “But we’re not staying here to find out what’s behind it.”
She gave the door one last shove, and it hissed open. The two crewmates bolted into the hallway, their footsteps echoing loudly.
“Okay,” Croissant panted as they slowed to a stop near the lower engine. “What was that? Do vents just... open on their own?”
Poison shook her head. “Not unless someone’s in them. Or someone’s trying to scare us.”
Croissant stared at her. “Scare us? Why would someone—?”
Her words were cut off by a loud clang from the hallway behind them.
They both turned, their bodies tensing.
“Stay close,” Poison said, her voice low. She moved toward the sound cautiously, her hands balled into fists.
Croissant followed, her heart pounding so loudly she thought it might drown out any other noise.
They reached the corner, but the hallway was empty.
“There’s no one here,” Croissant whispered.
“Doesn’t mean we’re alone,” Poison replied, scanning the area.
Croissant took a shaky breath. “Okay, so what do we do now? If someone’s messing with us—”
“We finish our tasks,” Poison said firmly. “And we keep our eyes open.”
Croissant frowned. “That’s it? Just... keep working? What if they come after us?”
“Then we’ll be ready,” Poison said, her tone calm but serious.
Croissant sighed, nodding reluctantly. “Alright. But I’m not splitting up.”
Poison smirked under her visor. “Smart move.”
The two crewmates continued through the ship, their nerves on edge with every creak and clang. Croissant found herself sticking closer to Poison than she’d intended, the other woman’s calm demeanor oddly reassuring.
When they reached the reactor, Poison paused. “You need to refuel, right? I’ll cover you.”
Croissant nodded, heading to the task station. As she worked, she couldn’t shake the feeling of being watched. She glanced back at Poison, who stood near the entrance, scanning the room.
“Do you ever, you know... get scared?” Croissant asked suddenly.
Poison glanced at her, surprised by the question. “All the time. I just don’t let it stop me.”
Croissant smiled faintly. “That’s... comforting, actually.”
Before Poison could respond, the ship’s lights flickered again.
Both women froze, their gazes snapping to the hallway outside.
“Here we go again,” Poison muttered, stepping closer to Croissant. “Stay sharp.”
The flickering stopped, leaving the hallway dimly lit. A shadow moved at the far end, just for a moment, before disappearing.
Croissant’s breath caught. “Did you see that?”
Poison nodded, her voice low. “Yeah. Let’s move.”
The two crewmates hurried back toward the main deck, their unease growing with every step. They didn’t know who was out there or what their intentions were, but one thing was clear: they couldn’t afford to let their guard down.