The shattered edge

[Shagohad]

With the column of marines and the warbot behind her, Angelica marched through the cryptic halls of the massive vessel. The Gothic architecture seemed unnerving and cryptic, but the only thoughts of fleeing from the marines remained only that. These men were well trained; the only thing that would stop them was death.

Shadows seemed to creep and slither along the walls, their ghastly forms twisted and warped by the alien metals and panels that jutted from the passage they walked down. Occasionally, a marine raised his rifle at one of the shadows, the soldier obviously spooked by the ship that they were trapped within. It seemed to be nothing of great concern: It was a spooky and unknown ship and they were mere men and women with guns. It could throw an inter dimensional being at them and there was nothing they could do to it. Who knew? Angelica sure didn't.

Her attention quickly focused on a man two rows down. Timidly, he raised his weapon and approached one of the shadows, breaking rank to inspect the ghastly form that danced amongst the wall. Stupid man, she thought. She should shoot him to make an example to the others about satiating one's curiosity, but her thoughts were cut short. The shadow jumped violently from the wall and snatched the man, the dark figure slithering amongst his body. The man screamed, dropping his weapon and pulling at the invisible entity that had grabbed him. Weapons were raised and the column shifted back from the helpless marine, their expressions hidden by their EVA masks, but if they were anything like her, they'd be grimacing in horror.

There was a sickening crack as the man doubled over, folding in half like a slip of paper. His screams only intensified as his arms and legs were twisted over one another like a pretzel. In an instant, he was crushed, much like a grape squashed in a hand. The twisted piece of meat that used to be a man fell to the floor, the marines backing away.

The remaining marines looked to Angelica, their weapons readied to fire at the spot where the man had met his violent end. She gulped, not quite knowing what to do. "Well this is a setback," She began, celaring her throat, "Let's get out of this place as fast as we can! Double time!" Without a reply, the marines began to run down the hall, their fear showing as they pushed past one another to get out of this death room. Quickly, Angelica sprinted ahead of them, not allowing them to get past her.

---

"THE HULL HAS BEEN BREACHED AND THE SCIENCE IS LEAKING OUT!"