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(Page 3 of 7) The Crimson Heart part 4 by Cameron Olson
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The structure floated in the dark void, a huge cube at least five times the size of the shuttle, which was 100 meters long and about 40 wide. A laser scanned the surface of the structure for an airlock and the shuttle approached the module as soon as one was found. The darkness deepened the instant the shuttle latched onto the docking point. Teska felt a shiver running down her spine again and when she turned around the blank faces of the marines helmets were all pointing at the one of their number kneeling next to the open maw of the docking tube. He wasn't moving a muscle, his own helmet facing into the strange darkness of the tube. As Teska approached him she heard him moan.
"What's wrong, Private Berran?" Teska asked him over secure comm. as she reached his side.
"I can't... I can't move, Ma'am," Private Berran whispered in response. "There's something down there. It's looking at me. I can hear it in my head..."
"What's it saying?" Teska asked.
"It's... saying... oh God, it knows my name..." His voice was starting to crack on the last few words and Teska grabbed his shoulder and pulled him away from the tunnel.
"It doesn't know your real name, Terry Berran," Teska said. "Only God knows that. Do you believe that you belong to Jesus?"
"Y...yes Skipper," Private Berran said.
"Then believe that only he rules your life, and none can take you from him," Teska pulled the private to his feet and patted him on the shoulder. "You know his promises, you know he keeps them. He won't let you go, Terry."
"Thank you, Skipper," Private Berran said. "God bless you."
"You too, Private," Teska said and turned her comm. to general address. "I want all of you to examine your hearts right now. Seek guidance from God. If he tells you not to face these demons, then stay here. I won't hold it against you and neither will the Major."
After a moment's hesitation, Private Berran moved to stand beside Teska. No one else moved and Teska looked around at those gathered, then at Major Haber. "Major?" she asked over a secure comm.
"I'm being told to stay, Skipper," Major Haber replied. "I'm not afraid, but, I just don't feel this battle is for me. I'm sorry."
"It's alright, Major," Teska said, "I'll call if we need you. Private Berran, follow me." Teska moved to the docking tube and dropped down into the zero gravity of the tube, the shock rifle slung over one shoulder by its carry strap. When she passed through the skin of the module the green lights started showing which side of the tube corresponded with the floor. She turned around and caught one of the grab bars when she saw the red ring indicating the end of the tube and swung out carefully, stepping to the side to make room for Private Berran. Except for the lights in the tube, everything was dark, unnaturally dark. Teska knew that the optics in her helmet would enough light to work with just from the tube lights. She switched on the ultraviolet floods on her helmet but the darkness remained. It was the kind of darkness that had her expecting something from a horror movie to pop up in front of her face at any moment.
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