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Chapter 2 - The Doctor is In!

All air has escaped as Lt. Dan, the only human aboard grabs his throat. His lungs are expanding… His blood is boiling… And he knows he is about to die.

7 hours earlier

After haggling for a few minutes, Jayne, a member of the crew of the cargo ship Golgatha, welcomes you aboard. He briefly introduces you to Captain Malcolm, the gunnery agent Muldoon, and Engineer Fulsom. They are 4 of the 5 member crew of the Golgatha which is destined for the Anvil Galaxy and Archos Prime.

Also coming aboard is a large Atlantean man covered in Tattoos names Zark. He too is looking for passage to Archos Prime, although it is unclear as to why. The other Atlanteans know that most tattooed men like him were once slave labor, bestowed with great power only to serve the will of their masters. Maybe his desire to go to Archos Prime is related to the transport of 80 other slaves destined to go there.

The ship departs and the travel is without incident. Many hours pass until they are about to arrive at Archos Prime. The group are eating in the galley with the engineer and Pilot who has finally come from the bridge to eat.

The Captains voice echoes over the loudspeaker, "We should be in orbit in about 10 minutes folks, so get ready for some chop."

As the speaker clicks off, Captain Dan Patrick is stricken with a horrible image. He is standing with the others in the cargo hold as the ship is under attack. All air has escaped as he, the only human aboard grabs his throat. His lungs are expanding… His blood is boiling… And he knows he is about to die.

He returns to reality sitting at the galley table, fork still in hand, and realizes he has just glimpsed the future, or one possible future. Knowing they have but minutes before they reach Archos Prime, the attack, whatever it is, is only moments away.

Suddenly the rest of group at the table are also filled with the suddent realization they are about to be attacked as the voice of Lt. Dan fills their heads with warning.

As they each hear the message, the ship begins to shudder and shake. The Captain's voice comes over again.. "We are under attack, everyone to battle stations. Passengers to their quarters…"

Pike and Zark head for the bridge as Cleric and Lt. Dan head for engineering in the opposite direction.

As Pike and Zark approach the Bridge, there is a sudden rush of air and then nothing for an instant as the bulkhead doors seal around them. Ahead, they can see as the air returns to this sealed of section, the bridge, and all who where on it are gone, the entire front of the ship has been destroyed.

In Engineering Lt Dan tries to read all the flashing lights as the bulk head doors all over the ship begin to seal. Fulsom tries to make sense of everything happening.

"We lost the bridge and one thruster. Systems are failing all over. We will be pulled into the atmosphere and burn up… I can't get control…"

Suddenly the ship stops shaking and is still.

Fulsom grabs the intercom… "They have docked with us at the main cargo hatch, all those alive, prepare for boarders."

Fulsom remains in engineering to see if he can get any repairs done, and the rest of the Golgatha crew are no where to be seen. Everyone else gathers in the loading dock as the main hatch opens.

6 armed and armored soldiers enter guns blazing. A fire fight ensues in the cargo hold which has only a narrow passage down the center, the rest filled with crates and other cargo.

Everyone takes cover as the narrow patch fills with gun fire. Everyone but Cleric, who begins to take the stance of the Gun Kata…

Lt Dan, having taken a large environmental suit, stand perfectly still as to not arouse attention, using his mind focus to even the odds.

Cleric begins the Kata as more bullets fly. Each person praying the bullets will kill the enemy, not them or rupture the hull of the ship.

Zark runs to the side and leaps for cover as bolts of electricity launch from his hands toward the shooters.

Pike makes his way up to the catwalks where a large ATV used to load cargo hangs suspended.

As bullets blaze, two of the soldiers run back for their ship. One is fatally wounded by the Clerics hail of gunfire, and only 3 remain.

Suddenly the ATV comes crashing down as Cleric leaps to avoid being crushed. The ATV rockets forward running over two of the attackers before crashing full speed into the edge of the cargo bay.

The final soldier turns to flee just as a bolt of electricity hits him in the face taking his flesh and his life is a crackle of blue light.

The Lt. Dan and Cleric run though the airlock into the enemy ship to find the two soldiers who fled crouched in a corner terrified.

Lt Dan begins to work out a plan to take the enemy ship, knowing their own vessel is too damaged to enter orbit. As they plan, Jayne runs into the cargo hold to see them and runs back to the Golgatha, sealing off the airlock. Pike and Zark leap through the doors as they close. The Golgatha is trying to break free from the grappling hooks that have secured her to the enemy vessel. As Lt dan works to see if her can communicate with the Golgatha, warning them that to release now would mean certain death, Pike, recognizing the release controls, release the grappling hooks sending he Golgatha and her crew to burn in orbit.

"Sorry Dan, it is them or us… they might have ruptured the hull of this vessel, and we are too close to die now…"

The speaker rings out in the small control room in the enemy cargo bay. Lt Dan, trying to imitate the voice of one of the two living soldiers speaks to the bridge…
"Sorry sir, we seems to have lost contact with the ship and they were able to break free, but we are fine here, everything fine, how are you?"

It is then Lt Dan sees the video screen in front of him showing him talking into the microphone with the rest of the rogue group in the cargo bay. An image being piped to the bridge as he realized the jig is up.

Lt Dan quickly thinks of what to do next as the doors seal around them and pink gas fills the cargo bay. As he grabs his throat choking, he thinks to himself, "well isn't this ironic…"

As they awaken, the group finds themselves in a large room behind a laser wall. In the room they see several human size tubes filling with liquid. They see one man dressed in a large white lab coat, and 3 other figures in the same garb as the invaders they just faced off against. The hum of the laser bars make hearing the conversation nearly impossible, but Lt. Dan recognizes the man in the lab coat as DR Lazarus, taking the memory from one of the soldiers who mind bonded with.

In the center of the room is a much larger tube filled with a massive and terrifying creature, seemingly in some sort of hibernation state.

The room as has three massive pressure doors on 3 of the 4 walls, and in front of one of them is a table with the groups weapons and equipment.

Suddenly a concussion grenade explodes on the table, the pin having been pulled by some unseen force. The force knocks down everyone but the Doctor, but the damage and diversion are much greater then anticipated as the large glass tube holding the vile creature cracks and ruptures. The creature stepping forth.

The Doctor and the other soldiers move toward the pressure door to escape. Before stepping through Lazarus takes a small control from his pocket and lowers the laser bars… exposing the group to the monster.

The doors seal and the group stands on the fare side of the room with all their weapons and armor behind the creature.

Zark shoots bolts of lightening at the creature, as Pike forms a psionic sword and stands before the massive creature, hacking at him.

Lt Dan, kneels to the ground as Cleric using sudden super speed runs past the creature and collects her guns.

Pike strikes the creature several times before a tentacle arm extends out and delivers a near fatal blow.
The creatures tail extends out to Lt. Dan only to stop moments before on some sort of invisible force field around him.

Zark is also delivered several blows, but his Tattooed hide seems to be able to withstand most of the attack.

Cleric, unlike many times before, stand still and calm firing in a slow rhythmic pattern to strike the head of the beast.

Finally as the beast approaches for the killing blow on the 3 in the back of the room, a final calculated shot rings from the Clerics gun fires a shot at the exact place as previous bullets, enough to finally penetrate the skull and kill the beast.

Pike, near death, is saved by the efforts of Zark and Lt. Dan. Weak an injured they grab their gear and start to work on opening one of the doors.

All but Zark, who seems fascinated with the purple blood oozing from the dead creature. Unseen he takes small sampling on his fingers and brings them to his lips, taking but a single taste. He shakes for a moment and the intensity of the blood coming into contact with him electrifies his nerves. A mere second later he feels completely refreshed. His wounds are healed and he feels as strong as ever.

Fearful, Pike also samples the blood, seeing the effects it had, knowing the risks it poses are acceptable in his current state of near death.

Mostly healed and armed, the group moves toward the pressure door hoping Lt. Dan can open it… Until all three of the doors open at the same time. A single figure approaches enters each door. They are all DR. Lazarus…

In unison, in a monotone voice… they speak… "You killed our pet, let us see how you fair against us…"

And the pressure doors seal behind them…

End of Chapter 2