Fate of the Reasoner

[Fab]

Almost half of a shift's time later, Martin, Ramón and Samuel are finally called in. Their shift officially starts. Down the way towards the life support compartment, they regroup. Strangely, they don't meet many people along the way.

Martin
Something's off. Where's everyone? I know most of the work is being made on the engines, but some are supposed to be down here with us too...

---

Samuel
Poor eses. Enforcers might've caught up to them. Asking questions until they run out of words.

---

Ramón
I don't like this. At all. We should be careful.

---

They arrive at hallway twelve, just outside the entrance to the hidden compartment. They agree they've collected all that is worth collecting for the time being, and make plans for cleaning up the place and sealing the entrance semi-permanently, at least until the enforcers are recalled. As they reluctantly discuss on how to dispose of the bodies, they're surprised by foreman Juárez, with an escort of two enforcers.

Ramón
Foreman! Señor! W-what's needed? We're almost done here.

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Foreman Juárez
They say that a criminal always returns to the crime scene, eh?

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Samuel
Juarez... what the hell are you on about? You loco?

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Foreman Juárez
Don't mistake me for a fool, pendejo. [Juárez raises his tone, as he unholsters a riot control pistol] Tell me! Who are you working for? Which família is it?

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Samuel
You lost it, Juarez... What are you even talking about?!

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Foreman Juárez
Do you think I'm a fool? I was here earlier. You think I wouldn't recognize the smell of rotting corpses? Just when we have workers missing?

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Ramón
Senõr Juarez! It's nothing like that! We can explai-

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Foreman Juárez
And all under my f****** nose. Jesus! The guts on you porcos!

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Martin
F-foreman! Señor! Those aren't the workers you are looking for!

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Foreman Juárez
Treacherous bastard! [Juárez shoots Martin in the leg, the concussion shattering his tibia] And a liar, too!

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Martin
Aah- Pendejo! [Martin falls on the floor, prompting Ramón and Samuel to raise their hands]

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Samuel
You're f****** crazy, Juarez. Always knew you were loco!

---

The lights flicker just as Juarez takes aim on Samuel. The hallway would be completely silent if it wasn't for Martin's pained grunts. Soon after, mechanical thumps and electrical arcs are heard, and the lights shut off completely. The enforcers turn on their flashlights and scan the hallway, taking defensive positions. Juarez keeps aim on Samuel and Ramón, but once noticing they are as confused as him, he joins the enforcers on defending the hallway, expecting an ambush. Seconds pass and no new noises are heard. Suddenly, a bright blue-purple light approaches them from the end of the corridor. The enforcers and Juarez take aim. The mysterious light slowly approaches them without making a single noise. Samuel grabs Martin by his suit and drags him back, making the others follow. They keep backing up until they reach the cover sheets the explorers laid down earlier. With nowhere to retreat, the enforcers look at each other and agree to open fire. Before they do, a bright flash blinds them and the group.

Foreman Juárez
Ack! Mierda! [Juárez covers his eyes]

---

The group regains sight one by one. As they open their eyes, they notice the ominous light is gone, and the hallway is lit again. Juárez checks the enforcers, placing his hand on one of them, but he is pushed away, falling on his back.

Foreman Juárez
What's wrong with you?! It's me, Juárez!

---

To his surprise, both enforcers ready their rifles against Juárez and the rest. Angered, Juárez quickly grabs his gun and fires at the closest enforcer, to no effect.

Foreman Juárez
F****** traitors!

---

Enforcer
Death to those who desecrate...

---

Juárez's eyes widen as he wears the whir of the enforcers' rifles before being gunned down. Martin, Ramón, and even the hardened Samuel, react in terror as the hallway is painted with his blood. Samuel tackles the closest enforcer before they were given the chance to fire at him and his friends, but is killed by the other enforcer. Ramón seizes the opportunity to grab Juárez's bloodied pistol and fires against the enforcer that killed Samuel. By sheer luck, the impact round finds an unprotected gap between the enforcer's helmet and body armor, breaking his neck with a concussive explosion. Ramón dives on the floor and fires his last bullets at the remaining enforcer, which knocks him down. He throws away Juárez's pistol and takes the dead enforcer's rifle, but with no experience handling such firearm, he takes a moment to fire his first round. Unfortunately, that is enough time for the enforcer to ready his rifle and fire back at Ramón, and both are struck by gunfire.

Martin, terrified and alone, panics. His visor is completely fogged by his rapid breathing and can't see much. He almost passes out because of hyperventilation, but a radio call from the foreman's communicator makes him snap back to reality. Martin gathers his strengths and crawls towards the body of Juárez, grabbing the communicator. With a panicked voice, he shouts for help, before passing out from blood loss and shock.