The Ghost

JP with Omni, Jaxx, redsword_7, Kudzu, and CS

“What the shit is that?” asked Paddy.

"Don't know... Oh great, back up, quietly, lock the door." Roberts whimpered. He couldn’t make out the exact size of the thing but it was at least as tall as a human.

"Oh shit oh shit.", muttered Jensen to himself. He quickly scrambled through the team in the crowded antechamber and fumbled to lock the door with his keycard. The keypad flashed red indicating that the door was now locked.

The strange creature behind the glass lowered its head to the window and cocked it to the side. Its face had no visible eyes, nose or mouth and its bulbous head tapered back into a conical shape. The crew could feel it studying them.

"Doors locked, so we are sort of safe right now. But what in God's name is this thing?"
Jensen really started to feel the pressure now. He didn't sign on for this. Why risk his life again for the company and all the dodgy shit they do? Even the mission objectives clearly aren't designed to value life.

The pale beast leaned in close to the window, its imperceptible jawline opening up revealing razor-sharp teeth. Its mouth protruded slightly outward like a goblin shark as it slams its face into the glass, cracking it.

Capt. Kenny winced as he had a glimpse of what the crew was seeing now. The only saving grace was that Roberts was there to take command of the Cronus mission and crew.

"Oh, come on!" Jensen shouted at the creature. "I'm no expert but it doesn't look like it can get in, but man, we are trapped in here. We gotta make a move."

The pale beast smashed its face again, shattering the glass and creating a hole. The team could hear it fiercely scratching at the door with its claws.

"I.. I.. I.. i think my card will work on the cyro chamber door. We can get out that way if we think it's our best move." Jensen said in a clearly panicked voice. "We're just sitting ducks in here. Like a prepackaged lunch!"

Capt. Kenny replied, "Jensen get your mind right! Wait for Roberts before you do something rash. From what I saw that must be the parasite we are concerned about and I would not be surprised if there were more than one of them. This must be what Vera saw outside the ship, so it means they don't need air to breathe like we do. Roberts, use fire to kill them if possible before you use bullets. I have a bad feeling their blood may be used to spread poison or baby parasites. Some creatures back on earth can do that. Don't hesitate to kill them, Roberts! Also no one panic! You will use up your air faster. Roberts, I need you to get them over here so you have command under me! GOT THAT JENSEN AND ROKU?"

"That's not the thing from outside.", said Vera, shaking her head. "That's... something else..."

"Duly noted Vera, but we really don't know squat about these parasites and Ava the android was out of commission when you spotted that thing outside. My gut tells me that these things are dangerous and we should get away from them ASAP.", said the Captain.

Roberts stepped back some. "My experience from the Marines tells me that these parasites are the life forms that MUTHUR picked up. So we don't know how many we have in the air shaft and we can't use the vacuum of space to kill them. We don't move until the other crew is ready. Vera, if something sticks its claw or teeth through that window, flame it. We are in close quarters. No one in front of that flamer.", ordered Roberts.

Then came a thud against the door. The thing was trying to break its way in.
Roberts said. "I am going to tap my shotgun muzzle next to the window and when it looks in, flame it."

Vera nodded and readied the flamethrower.

Roberts tapped the window area, taunting the creature and when it lunged, he jumped back and Vera opened fire in its mouth. The hallway rang with an otherworldly shriek as flames engulfed the creature's head. After a moment of terror, it quickly disappeared from view.

"Well they know we are here and WE have teeth too." said Roberts.