The End to Come - Page 14 3D Render, Digital Artwork by emarukk

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The End to Come - Page 14

3D Render by emarukk

Suddenly, the corridor lights flickered violently before plunging into darkness. Alarms screamed with even more relentless fury as red emergency lights pulsed with urgency, illuminating the path to the airlock with a menacing glow. The helmet dampened the chaos into a muffled roar, yet even through the muted din, it was clear that pandemonium had surged to an unprecedented crescendo. The emergency lights painted a spectral glow across the curved walls, transforming strangers into haunting apparitions with blood-red outlines. Amidst the swirling chaos, the airlock stood in stark, blinding clarity. Olivia clung to the bulkhead, encased in an oversized space suit, her heart pounding with terror. To her left loomed her dread, a massive, sealed door that was the only barrier between her and the unforgiving void of space.

Then, with a corner of her eye, she noticed a flicker of movement from her right side. The abrupt motion drew her attention, and she turned just in time to see the drone darting back, emerging from the dim corridor like a streak of metallic lightning. Its gravitation engines emitted a low, insistent hum, vibrating with a sense of frustrated urgency as it expertly maneuvered to a stop near the airlock control panel.

The stranger whirled around, eyes locked onto the drone, and jabbed a finger at it with force. Olivia strained to hear the muffled, wrathful voice crackling through her helmet. The stranger's voice thundered through his helmet speaker, resonating with authority and fury. "There you are! Just in time! When we're back on the ship, I demand a full report of your reckless little adventure!"

The drone loomed beside him, its array of status lights pulsating with a frenetic urgency, as if desperately trying to prove its worth. It emitted a cacophony of sounds, resembling bird songs distorted through a mechanical nightmare, each note twisted and jarring.

"Is he really arguing with a drone?" Olivia wondered, her fear momentarily slipping away like a shadow at dawn. The stranger swiftly turned back to the control panel. His fingers precisely danced over the buttons, pulling and twisting the control switch to initiate the airlock sequence. The inner door of the deteriorating station slammed shut with a resounding thud, the metallic clatter of locks echoing within its frame. The seal was airtight, and the first outer door swung open with a swift, mechanical grace. Olivia flinched, her body reacting to the sudden change as she instinctively turned towards the gaping doorway, then back at the drone, now hovering silently like a watchful sentry. The stranger continued through the decompression routine, his movements deliberate and assured, evidence of his familiarity with the process. All airlocks throughout the Confederation operated in the same efficient manner, a testament to the elegance of standardization. But Olivia was torn as she realized this was her farewell to the childhood home she had always deemed eternal and safe. She tried to sharpen her senses, taking in her surroundings while wrestling with the fear that threatened to overwhelm her.

Pushing fear and sorrow to the side, Olivia strained to catch the words exchanged between the man and the drone. Still, the conversation was a silent pantomime to her. She could see the stranger's gestures, sharp and deliberate, yet somehow aggressive compared to his other movements, which exuded a quiet confidence, as if this were just another routine task in his day. He precisely executed the final sequence, and the chamber released a loud, serpentine hiss as the pressure began to drop. Olivia's suit responded instantly, the material stiffening slightly with a subtle whirr that hummed in her ears. A gentle pressure built up in her eardrums, a tangible reminder of the differing atmospheres pressing against her. The artificial gravity flickered once like a light bulb about to burn out, then gracefully faded away. Now untethered, Olivia floated within her suit, which was affixed to the bulkhead. Her head gently collided with the interior of her helmet, prompting a small whimper to escape her lips. Her rapid breathing echoed loudly in the confined space, creating a rhythm that matched her quickened heartbeat. The stranger's gravity shoes clung resolutely to the floor, keeping him grounded as he stood by the controls, one gloved hand resting with casual assurance near the panel.

The outer door began to open as programmed, its metal panels sliding apart with a slow, almost reluctant motion. As they separated, the vastness of the cosmos was unveiled, and the shuttle came into view, hovering like a phantom in the boundless black void. Its sleek frame glistened faintly against the backdrop of distant stars. The shuttle's back gate stood open, a silent, inviting maw beckoning them aboard. Yet, there was no gangway, no protective boarding corridor bridging the gap. Only the intimidating expanse of open space lay between her and the ship. The stranger beside her turned with deliberate calm, offering a single, steady nod, signaling their impending departure into the abyss. The mechanism securing the suit to the bulkhead suddenly released with a sharp click, startling her awake from her dream-like calmness.