I had this opening/scene/ whatever you wanna call it come to my mind the other night and I managed to get it down before it vanished. It doesn’t go anywhere and I’m not sure that it will, but I think it’s an interesting read none the less, at least I hope so. -JD
The whole station shook violently, the screeching jolt of the wall joints screaming in anguish was only overwhelmed by the constant klaxon that blared through the halls. The lights flickered between nothing, and the bright red of the alarms ushering everyone to evacuate.
They pushed through the hallways, stumbling over an assortment of bodies strewn across their path towards the escape pods. Shots rang out somewhere and Samantha flinched. David squeezed her hand, the smallest comfort he could afford to give her. They arrived at the door to the escape pods and David swiped his card, a flash of instant panic as he wondered if the connection to the authorization server was even intact, but after an agonizing second the door beeped and opened. He ushered Samantha inside and closed the door behind them.
The sounds of chaos outside dulled slightly and David tried to clear his mind and think.
“Put that suit on” he said, pointing at the case that sat next to each of the escape pods. The normal pods didn’t have this luxury, but the executive pods like these were outfitted much better for actual survival.
He began to put his own suit on, only stopping briefly to help get hers situated.
“These have a six month power supply that will keep you alive in case you land in hostile environments. There’s a rifle..”
“A rifle?” She said, her voice quivering.
“Yes a rifle. It’s in the back compartment along with all the other supplies. The pod should be able to help get you set up.”
He tapped the shoulder on her suit and linked it to his.
“This way I can find you no matter where we are,”
“You aren’t coming with me?!” her voice on the verge of full panic now
“These are built for survival first and convenience second. I can’t control where they’re going to land, but wherever you are, stay alive and I will find you.”
“I’m scared” Samantha said, tears streamed down her face as she stared at him.
“I am too, but it’s going to be okay.” he tried to sound convincing but he knew he’d failed. Somewhere nearby an explosion thundered, shaking the entire ship and sending off a new set of alarms. She clung to him, her arms pleading with him to stay with her.
“Listen.” he said, unwrapping her arms and taking her face in his hands, thumbing the tears off her cheek.
“I will find you. Stay alive and I promise I will see you again.” and he kissed her, forcing himself for just a moment, to ignore the world, ignore the chaos and calamity that raged outside and commit as much of this moment to his memory as he could, absorbing it in as many ways as his exhausted body would let him.
Another explosion shook the ship, breaking them apart. He strapped her into her pod, making sure all the lights were green before kissing his wife one last time before the door closed. He rushed to his own pod, feeling the urgency building inside him like a balloon ready to pop. The hatch door closed and the screen lit up the darkness, a large red button that read “Launch” appeared. He paused for a moment and waited.
“Come on” he gritted and a second later the assuring explosion of the pod next to his rang out and he tapped the button. The entire capsule shook and beeped as the engines started and before he had a chance to brace himself, something behind him exploded, forcing him back in the seat with such force he thought he would vomit if his lungs were able to expand.
The pod beeped a red medical symbol indicating his heart rate was too high and something in his lower back pinched, a cocktail of drugs meant to assist with the g forces and knock him unconscious for the crash. He closed his eyes, the pod shaking as it hurtled through space, away from the place that had been their home for almost ten years and before he had a chance to think the drugs kicked in and he was out.
