The interior was a dark and empty chamber. Luckily, their shuttle was equipped with external lights which illuminated the bleak and empty metal walls around them. They touched down gently, alone in the vast hall.

“Alright.” Nori got out of her harness. “Who’s up for meeting our new neighbors?”

7 - The Space Station

The shuttle’s door opened, revealing the four crew members huddled together.

They disembarked, glancing nervously around them.

Nori’s jaw was clenched as she took in the dark emptiness, and her fingers itched for her missing Disruptor.

“Phew, it sure is hot in here,” Lana said lightly, breaking the tension.

Bulco frowned. “You’re right. Must be at least thirty degrees Celsius in here. That's about ninety for you non-technical types.”

“So, hot and dark. We’re off to a great start!” Lana joked, her voice quivering slightly.

Nori looked at the overly cheerful woman. “You can stay in the shuttle, Lana. It might be safer. You too, Nathan.”

“No,” the shorter woman replied with a surprising amount of heat. “We’ve made it this far, and I’m not staying behind.”

“Then let’s go. Everyone be careful please.”

They stepped away from the shuttle. Their craft’s light extended only several meters before it was swallowed by the oppressive darkness.

Nori moved ahead of the group. “Hello? Anyone here? We got your message.”

There was only silence and darkness.

The four companions exchanged nervous glances. Then, an ominous sound filled the dark void. It was a clicking, fluttering, utterly alien sound.

Lana grabbed Bulco’s hand as her heart beat frantically. The Engineer looked down to the woman at his side but said nothing.

Nori could feel her own heart pounding rapidly, but she stood her ground and called out again. “We’re humans from Earth. We got your message and would like to … err … trade.”

The clicking sound grew nearer and out of the darkness stepped a huge figure. It was over two meters tall and as wide as Bulco. Metal plates and delicate looking contraptions were strapped all over its body. Its head emerged from the shadows last.

Lana screamed.

The creature’s head was a horrid skeletal mask, with long oily braids descending behind him.

Its mouth had two opposing jaws, and when opened, as it was now, it spanned over half its face. It looked down at them, then its jaws extended, releasing the ominous rattling sound, much louder than before.

“It’s going to attack!” Bulco pushed Nori’s aside and charged at the creature.

“No, wait!” Nori yelled, but she was too late.

Bulco had already committed. He drew back his arm holding The Puncher, ready to put his full momentum into the attack.

However, things didn’t happen as he expected.