VC Chapter 40-The Pod

Sector 2100

Planet 2101

January 27, 2052

Charlie watched as Park's Apocrypha approached his base carrying the escape pod. The pod was dented and scorched moderately from the transport. The window of the pod appeared to have cracked from hitting debris.

“Lower it down.” Wicker waved at the Parks.

The Apocrypha slowly hovered above the ship bay and dropped the pod onto the ground with a loud metallic bang.

“Get it open.” Wicker waved at team of engineers standing behind him.

A battered Revelation cruiser slowly made its way from outside and docked into a vacant spot. Dimitris was the first to rush out followed by his crew.

“That's Tassos' pod! I recognize it.” Dimitris shouted from the stairs as he quickly made his way down.

“Well, hurry it up.” Wicker watched as the engineers began cutting the hull of the pod.

“Captain Wicker, the hull is too thick for our cutters.” an engineer pointed at the metal.

“Take out the window.” Wicker crossed his arms.

“Yes sir.” the lead engineer replied.

The team quickly made their way to the broken window and began dismantling the window. The window shattered and air hissed out.

“We've got a few bodies in here.” the engineer called out.

Charlie watched as woman stepped out of Dimitris' ship escorted by a few MYRM guards. She immediately rushed towards the pod when she heard news of the bodies.

“Nooo!” the woman cried.

“Get her away from there.” Wicker commanded to a few guards as the woman dashed passed some of the engineers.

Some soldiers grabbed her and held her back away from the ship as the engineers carried out the bodies one by one.

“That's my husband. That's my husband in there!” the woman sobbed hysterically.

“I need a medic team here!” the lead engineer examined the bodies for pulse.

A team of medical personnel on standby rushed to the scene and began performing artificial resuscitation on some of the bodies with the weak pulse. One of them which appeared to be an oxygen-deprived Tassos and was completely motionless.

“Nooooo...” Stella cried as she collapsed to the group in distress.

“Clear!” a medic shouted as he sent a jolt through Tassos' chest.

“Come on Tassos.” Dimitris muttered under his breath and prayed.

Charlie looked at Tassos' body and then at his wife. He was lost for words and his eyes watered with sadness. Some of the medics were already shaking their heads at the other bodies that they were working on. Tassos was lifeless as a medical officer pressed his hand manually on his chest.

“Whyyyy?” Stella screamed as she lunged forward.

 The soldiers grabbed the distraught wife and pulled her away from the scene as the medics continued to work with Tassos' heart. Wicker looked at the ground in frustration and then watched Charlie shake his head and then rubbed at his teary eyes.