Part 87

Lyra heard the sounds of metal movement and the clink of metal against metal, ending in a systematic hiss. Taking a sharp intake of breath, she moved closer to the vent face, leaving Sykra and Byryl huddled as far back into the two-by-five-meter maintenance vent. She pressed her ear against the cold grated metal, and heard only the sounds of distant movement from the above floors, natural and structural alike. She began to unscrew the vent face. "What are you doing, hooman!" barked Byryl as he caught her trying to open the cover. Lyra gave him a sharp look which made him look at his curled up legs in embarrassment. "Getting out of here." she answered, "I think the turrets are down." Sykra and Byryl took a moment to translate what she said in their heads before Sykra nodded, and crawled towards her. Byryl remained, chin resting on his knees, his hand idly stroking the splint on his leg..

The vent cover slipped out of Lyra's hands that had started to sweat, especially in the heat inside the vent due to the body heat and their closeness. The cover fell away and landed on the metal floor with a metallic clank that echoed through the deck plating, and then nothing. No turret barking bullets, no rushing of creature paws, nothing. Relieved, Lyra and Sykra left the vent, and stretched their limbs. Sykra turned to Byryl and offered his hand. Byryl shook his head, obviously terrified by the whole situation and begin muttering in the Gryph language. Sykra looked sympathetically at Lyra, and she understood, giving them some time and space, she walked further afield, down the corridor to check on the bodies of the two crew lovers. Even in death, their love could not be broken. Their bodies lay bloodied and shredded with bullet impacts, but one lay on his stomach, and the other lay on his back, their hands that supported their wedding bands, remained touching. Even in death, their hands embraced one and other.

Lyra let out a soft silent sob before covering her mouth with her shaking hand in an attempt to hold back the cries. Soon, Byryl, supported by Sykra joined her. The corridor stank of death and burnt circuits, they began making their way towards the bridge. "Chief Medical Officer Lyra, how nice of you, to rejoin us." came the voice of Eve, it no longer gave off the perfect tone and softness, now it jumped a little here and there, and the pitch sometimes rose high or became deep and bass like. "Excuse me?" questioned Lyra frowning, Eve quickly gave the answer, faster than she usually would, as if she knew soon her voice module would cease to function.

"You are the highest ranking medical officer on ship, there-fore have been promoted by necessity to Chief Medical Officer."

"But, I'm a combat nurse."

"Very well. You're the only medical staff member on ship, there-fore promoted to chief medical officer." said Eve in a matter of fact tone as if to a child before adding, "Regulations demand a Chief Medical Officer must be present at all times aboard the vessel." Lyra played with the title on her tongue, she liked it. She let out a small laugh and said "that's one hell of a promotion, Eve. Thanks." Eve's voice module crackled and hissed for a moment and then nothing came. Lyra decided to keep playing with the title, she would enjoy rolling that out to Solomon next she saw him.

"Ah, Chief Medical Officer Millard." came Eve's voice again, more how it used to be, "where are you heading? Perhaps I can be of assistance?" Lyra paused for a moment, "Where is safe, and where can we meet Solomon?" Eve's voice module crackled and hissed once more and then nothing. Kicking a piece of rubble in frustration, the trio continued to make their way to the stairs that ran up the entire ship's height to all decks. When they reached the entrance, she could make out a digital map of the screen, it already had the "crew locator" status enabled and one flashing blue dot could be seen with a red circle around it indicating their location. She saw two orange dots next to hers, one blue dot with another orange dot in the armoury, and two more blue dots in the hangers with two orange dots. "no red dots..." she wondered allowed. "I am receiving friendlies in the hanger bay, medical attention is required, as chief medical officer and the only member of medical staff, you are needed. I am instructing a command liaison to attend also. Only commanding officer on ship is Acting Captain Gordon, he will be notified and instructed accordingly"

Lyra raised an eyebrow at this. Eve did not seem herself. Now she sounded like an ordinary Ship Command Centre. Eve, are you feeling OK?" she ventured as she leaned against the boarder of the status map. "My remaining systems are functioning well with adequate parameters. Thank you for inquiring." came the drifting tones of Eve's breaking voice. Sykra rested Byryl against the wall, and stood at Lyra's side. "So. We go to hanger?" he asked in a hope of an escape. The desperation in his blueish eyes made her answer very limited. The defence system is down, Eve would inform Solomon to go to the hangers, so they should go there too.