Chapter 1 - Outbreak

He gave her a stern look, staring into her eyes, but gave up after a moment. She seemed to be telling the truth. "We will do fine on Starnz...." he pulled out his new gun, pointing it out ahead of him with a smile. Closing one eye as if he were aiming, he let out a noise like a little kid would if he were imitating a gun. "I guarantee it."

"It wont be that hard to kill an insane mutant. Just slice the throat or cut out the heart. Or shoot 'im in the head. I don't see why this is such a big deal."

Raiz had calmed down and headed to the bridge he was hoping on using the ships many cameras to find Lock " -ut the heart. Or shoot 'im in the head. I don't see why this is such a big deal." is what he heard when entering the room, "Do what to who's heart? or shoot who in the head?" he asked thinking that Lock wasn't bad enough for those things, or maybe he messed with the wrong person today.

"I just don't see why this Geos is a big deal." she said to Raiz.

Raiz almost froze on the spot, no one told him they were headed after a Geos, he knew about them all to well, "Are next...mark is a Geos...?" he asked before tightening his fists and regaining some composure. "You shouldn't under estimate anything with a Geos, Claire, they are to unpredictable even if they seem harmless...No, specially if they seem harmless." he said with a glare he stared out the window eyes taking him back to a past he had forgotten.

"I need to go run..." she mumbled as she got up from her chair. She was angry and not really thinking clearly. She left the bill Don gave her at her station and went to the workout room.

She wasn't sure why she got that way. It really bothered her. She looked at her palms, wich were shaky and sweaty. Her stomach felt fluttery too. She took a deeop breath as she changed into some workotu clothes and set the treadmill on a high speed.

Nostromo concluded his writing just as he received a return signal on his communicator, it was time to depart the station as all necessary supplies have been acquired for the next mission, and the most critical areas of the ship where serviced and brought up to top speed again. It was a marvelously beautiful night within the dome as he descended down the elevator, passing somewhere among the boarding area for the high speed inter-city train.

He entered the air-lock of the ship only a short while later, the hiss of electronic passing beyond him would soon give away to the final departure from the station, all aboard it seemed. Yet as he entered, he realized an entirely different atmosphere was surrounding the ship yet again, he would eventually pass the exercise room and see someone running on a treadmill in seclusion.

"Are we all set to leave?" he asked her carefully, wondering a bit why she left the bridge that she usually seemed to spend the most time in.

Emmerich struggled to free his dagger hand, but just then the other side of the chain came flying at him. Quickly, he grabbed the other end and stepped on the chain, shortening the distance between him and Lock. With the other foot, he spun in place, contacting the heel of his boot with Lock's temple.

Claire looked at Nostromo. "Um...I don't think...so," she said, gasping between each word. She slowed the speed down slightly so she could talk. She also grabbed her jacket to cover herself up, since her tank top diddn't do a good job.

Raiz 's eye focus came back with a few blinks, he wanted to make sure if their mark was really a Geos, but he wasn't going to question, now wasn't the time to even ask, he had faith in Alastor so he removed it from his mind and sat at his own terminal. He moved the now cold lasagna that not many ate, to the side and began running a few diagnostics to keep busy.

Lock received the kick, the world tilted for him and it was like if he was gunna fall, a crazy grin broke across his face. "Pain can feel so good if done right, you need some work." he said before jumping behind him and tying him up with the chain that was still caught around his dagger arm, "you made a mistake and got to close~ wonder how you taste~"

Nostromo looked to Claire as she attempted to reclaim her breath, and still attempt to answer her. He smiled a bit as he looked off, "Thank you," he remarked, his inflection just strong enough for her to hear, "I mean.. For all your efforts.. I mean, just in case nobody told you that already!" he blurred out, a soft sigh escaping as he left, "I should get going to the bridge.."

Things already seemed to light up the closer he got to the bridge, but it was little to notice over the sound of his own mind turning one thought over the other. With a quick position to his, Nostromo would begin to bring the vessel to life, setting in the coordinates in all their calculated accuracy, and setting all systems to activate one after the other. It was not a quick jump to life, and rather one that slowly began with the usual role-call around the bridge, with each department giving its readiness status.

Once this was completed, and the parking break cleared the ship from the dock; Nostromo looked back upon the boss with a smirk, and nodded, "All is ready to go sir, your command?"

He stood up, looking around. Where was Emmerich? "Momentary leave" he stated to anyone within earshot so that they would know he was going to wander off. He immediately started to search for Emmerich, already having an idea about what was going on. There were only two people missing, and frankly, it was obvious what Lock would try.

He stopped by a room, listening carefully he could hear the comment through the door. With a grin, Donovan pulled out his knew gun and slid the door open. Within an instant, he had the gun against Lock's head.

"Sorry...." he chuckled a bit. "Looks like this meal is getting away." Lock may have been better at close combat, but Donovan's aim was exact, and he was known well on the ship for his lack of mercy.

After running checks on the Engine, the boiler and his weapons he let out a loud yawn that sounded like a roar, "sorry" he said to everyone in the bridge, Raiz got up and said he would be up top in the observation deck if he was needed, he wanted some alone time to just sleep and clear his mind. As he went up the stairs he turned back to his beast form "Being in human form takes its tole." he said as he rubbed his stiff shoulders.

Lock was about to start enjoying his new found meal when a gun taped the side of his head, "Oh, Donny, baby, if your jealous we can always make it a threesome you know for fun~" he said but at the same time let the chains hit the floor, "You know jealousy is so unbecoming of yo-" he grabbed his head, "Aww, time's up already..." he said before letting his hands fall to his side, "Ara? its not nice tangling people in others chain" key said to Don while freeing Emmerich, "What was i doing here again?"

He rolled his eyes. "I tied him up...right." He sighed, putting the gun away. He really didn't like that Lock, but if he harmed him, Key would be gone and everyone knew he was innocent. He didn't say anything else, instead, stormed off, making his way back to the bridge.

After about an hour Claire got off the treadmill and dabbed her forehead with a cloth. She sat for a few minutes to catch her breath before heading for the showers. She pressed the button to open the door....

Nothing happened. She pressed the button several more times and the door did not release.

She swore. Great. Now she had to fix the door and reset the entire system. She groaned and put up a paper sign saying out of order and headed toward the mens showers. She got undressed, her body flushed from her run, and said to the computer, "Hot water, Medium high pressure."

She stood there under the water, the pulsing helped ease her tense body. She could never seem to completely relax and it showed. She was always stiff and achey.

She decided to take her time in the shower, enjoying the solitude she had.

He passed the men's bathroom on the way to the bridge. Hearing the water running, he sighed. They had taken off and everyone was suppose to be at their positions for flight. Knowing he was late for role-call, he smacked the door and relayed a quick message. "Get your ass out here, man, you are suppose to be at your post!"

((They've already been 'off' for awhile now. Just quick fyi. >_>))

Claire skreiked at the sudden noise. "It's ME Don!!!"

She turned off the water,

"Everyone knows I'm here and I have no work to do right now."

He blushed and turned his head away as the glass unfogged. " Claire!?" he quickly turned out and walked into the hallway. He called from the hallway, "I didn't...it wasn't....." he was at a loss for words.

Claire was just as emmbarassed if not more than Don. She hated it when peopel saw her body. But the run and shower helped her calm down, and she diddn't get as angry as she normally would. She wanted to tear up, but diddn't dare cause another scene.

"it's fine!," she called. "The women's shower door is on the fritz."

She got out and wrapped up in a towel when she realized she hadn't brought in any clean clothes....wonderful.

She peered out the door being careful to hide the rest of her, "No one but you is out here right?" she asked, "I forgot to bring in some clean clothes. I need to make a dash to my quarters. I'd rather be seen by as little people as possible..."

He looked over to her. "Would you like me to go grab you something?" he asked. "I cannot say for sure that the halls are clear...but its the least i could do for barging in like that." he said, fidgeting a bit and unable to look her in the eye.