Chapter 18: Close Escape

Shadowpaw grabbed the bomb and looked at Wait. "Uh, hello? We've got an obviously abandoned space station here, all current LONAC members present and accounted for, and a giant space ship that's in near perfect working order. Why don't we just leave?"

Waitstate shook his head. "Little chance of that happening. If what Xaraxus said is true there's no way out."

Ruse shook his head. "Wait, we were able to get in here via docking bay hanger 12."

With a serious look, Waitstate turned to Ruse. "Show me."

Moments later the crew found themselves at the docking-bay hanger. It seemed impossible, but the bay doors were now a solid wall.

Waitstate thought for a second. "Stardrive, stay here and see if you can help Junky boost a signal through these walls to Bit on the Freedom. Have him target all weapon systems on this docking bay."

"If a blast makes it through it'll blow the shuttle" Stardrive replied.

Waitstate turned to the rest of his crew. "Let's hope so. The rest of you, I want you over to where the windows in the gallery used to be. Concentrate all of your firepower there and see if you can make a hole."

Artifice turned to Waitstate. "What are you going to do?"

"I'm going to diffuse that bomb." Waitstate turned around and headed back for the bar.

The rest of the crew quickly began their assigned tasks.

------------

Waitstate made it back to the bar and discovered that the bomb was missing. He walked closer to the bar and looked behind it. He was both shocked and confused by the sight before him. Dark Star lay on his side, quivering, as if in great pain. Waitstate never expected to see him in such a condition, especially at such a crucial time.

"What happened!?" Waitstate shouted.

With a weak and shaky voice, Dark Star replied. "The bomb, it was about to go off. I can only neutralize the field for a few more minutes."

Waitstate shook his head. "But how did you -- "

Dark Star cut him off. "Go, I will find my way out, one method or another."

An explosion was heard, and soon Waitstate receive a communication.

[Comm] "Your plan worked, the shuttle blew a small hole through the docking bay. The shuttle Bit is sending down should be here any second."

Waitstate picked up Dark Star. "Come on, you’re coming with me."

------------

Waitstate soon arrived at the docking bay with Dark Star. The others were already climbing through the hole and boarding the shuttle. A few of them stopped to help Waitstate, but he shook them away. "Go!"

As the final LONAC members crawled through the hole, Waitstate held onto Dark Star.

"It is too late, it cannot be removed" Dark Star said while opening his chest plate.

Waitstate pleaded with him. "We’ll cut around it, the wounds will be critical but we can service you as soon as we are on board the ship."

With every last bit of energy he had, Dark Star clasped both of his hands together and hit Waitstate in the head as hard as he could. The both fell over.

"It does not work that way" Dark Star replied coldly. He then grasped his gun and aimed it at Waitstate. Even though he didn’t have enough energy left to pull the trigger, Waitstate got the message.

Waitstate got up and shook his head. "Why?"

"To put a close on the past" was Dark Star’s final reply.

Against his will, Waitstate climbed through the hole and entered the shuttle. "What went on back there? Where is Dark Star?" seemed to be the common questions. Waitstate sat silent.

As soon as the shuttle landed on the LSS Freedom’s docking bay, he yelled the command "Engines full power!"

The station became further and further away.

------------

Dark Star’s body lay lifeless on the space station’s floor. His glowing red eyes soon turned black, and the bomb in his chest detonated. A green light filled the all openings of the station, igniting the strange alien energy. Soon, the spectacle was viewable by the rest of LONAC. The space station exploded in a brilliant light.